The prefecture of the southwestern department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques confirmed the closure by demonstrators of the A63 motorway, which connects the cities of Toulouse and Bayonne (French Basque Country), while the authorities of Drôme (southeast) reported the blockade of the A7 in Albon and also the A62 in Agen was banned.
The symbol of farmers' anger so far has been the traffic stop on the A64 that began last Thursday near Carbonne to denounce the impact on their daily work of inflation, low wages, environmental regulations considered very strict and the increase in fuel costs .
In the last few hours there was also a tractor blocking the access to the Golfech nuclear power plant.
The day before, the president of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (Fnsea), Arnaud Rousseau, announced the expansion of the movement throughout the week and for as long as necessary.
According to various sources, blockades will increase throughout the day, including on highways such as the A16 in the northern city of Beauvais.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal received leaders of Fnsea and Young Farmers. At this meeting, French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau promised quick answers.
The Prime Minister has clearly expressed his willingness to act quickly, making announcements on some issues later in the week and others later in the medium term, he said.
But protest participants don't believe a problem they say stems from over 30 years of field deterioration can be solved overnight. The anger of farmers is a scenario that has preoccupied Europe for weeks and is causing great concern among governments.
Protests were also reported in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and other countries, which is why the European Union's agriculture ministers are meeting in Brussels today.
lam/wmr