- Tens of thousands are protesting in France against Michel Barnier’s appointment as prime minister
- Left-wing parties and unions organized rallies, claiming Macron’s choice undermines democracy
- Barnier, the former EU Brexit negotiator, is attempting to form a cross-party government amid controversy
Tens of thousands of people are protesting in France against the appointment of right-wing Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, following an inconclusive election in which the left won the most seats.
Demonstrations are taking place in Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, and Strasbourg.
Trade unions and left-wing political organizations organized the rallies after President Emmanuel Macron rejected their nominee for prime minister.
Mr Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, has stated that he is willing to create a government with members from all political parties, including the left.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a seasoned firebrand from the radical France Unbowed party, has called for the “most powerful mobilization possible” in national marches.
Around 130 rallies are taking place, with the largest starting from central Paris on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Mélenchon took part in the Paris protest, giving a speech from the back of a float with the slogan “For democracy, stop Macron’s coup”.
Demonstrators are also using chants like “denial of democracy” and “stolen election”.
Left-wing parties are outraged that their nominee for prime minister, Lucie Castets, was rejected by Mr Macron, who stated that she had no chance of passing a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.
Mr Barnier may be able to withstand a confidence vote because the far right, which also gained a big number of seats, has stated that it will not automatically vote against him.
This has led to accusations that his government will be reliant on the far right.
“We have a prime minister completely dependent on National Rally,” Mrs. Castets remarked.
Mr Barnier paid a visit to a children’s hospital in Paris on Saturday afternoon, emphasizing the importance of public services but telling healthcare workers that his administration “is not going to perform miracles,” according to local network BFMTV.
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Against the backdrop of the protests, the new Prime Minister is focused on creating a new cabinet.
After meeting with the heads of the right-wing Republicans and the president’s centrist Ensemble group, he stated that the conversations were “full of energy”.
Some on the left have blamed themselves for appointing Mr Barnier as prime minister.
Socialist Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo stated that the president considered former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve for the position, but he was turned down by his party.
Another Socialist Mayor, Karim Bouamrane, blamed intransigence on other members of the left alliance: “The path they chose was 100% or nothing – and here we are with nothing.”
