France witnesses massive protests after Macron appoints conservative Barnier as PM
Protesters in Bordeaux on Saturday.
Hundreds of protests broke out acrossFrance after French President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier, a conservative leader, as the country’s new prime minister. Left parties have termed the move an attempt to grab power and disrespect the people’s will.
France witnessed snap legislative elections in July that produced a hung parliament, leaving Macron without a legislative majority and plunging his administration into turmoil. Following the polls, former PM Gabriel Attal was forced to tender his resignation.
Thousands of protestors gathered in Paris on Saturday (Sep 7) to oppose the appointment, with tensions running high in the air at Place de la Bastille. Protests were also seen in the southwestern cities of Montauban and Auch. A demonstrator was heard saying, “The people have been ignored”, in the crowd.
The 73-year-old prime minister is the oldest France has ever seen of its previous 26 PMs.
In his first interview after assuming charge, Barnier expressed his will to include conservatives, members of Macron’s camp as well as some from the left. But that failed to address concerns of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party. Meanwhile, LFI accused Macron of a denial of democracy and stealing the election as the PM was not chosen from the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance. The NFP came on top in the July elections.
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On the other hand, Barnier’s Les Républicains party is only the fourth largest bloc in parliament, with fewer than 50 lawmakers.
The LFI said it was planning more than 130 protests across the country, along with possible strikes on October 1.
Even the right-wing parties have also questioned Macron’s decision.
Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), warned that the new PM was under “surveillance” of his party. The RN leader also called on Barnier to include his party’s agenda in his policies.
Barnier is an experienced politician, whose appointment is seen as an attempt to bring much-needed political stability to the European Union’s second-largest economy.
(With inputs from agencies)