French President Emmanuel Macron was to set out a series of major policy announcements Monday in response to five months of nationwide "yellow vest" protests, in what has been billed as a make-or-break moment for his presidency.
Yet the task of trying to satisfy the many, sometimes competing demands coiled up in the protests will be a tricky one for the 41-year-old leader, who was elected two years ago on promises of sweeping changes.
His reform drive was abruptly knocked off course by the yellow vests, whose movement erupted in November against social inequality.
Macron responded by embarking on a major voter-listening exercise between January and March called the "Great National Debate", in which grievances were aired during thousands of town hall-style meetings.
"We have decided to transform the anger into solutions," Macron wrote on Twitter. "For several months you told us what you think and we heard... (Monday) night I will respond to you."