French President Macron has appointed the conservative Barnier as prime minister – and thereby provoked the anger of many French people. They accuse him of disregarding the result of the parliamentary election – and are taking to the streets.
In France, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the appointment of conservative politician Michel Barnier as prime minister.
People took to the streets in Paris, but also in many other cities such as Nantes, Nice and Marseille. The organizers said that around 300,000 people demonstrated across France, including 160,000 in Paris. The police in Paris, however, spoke of 26,000 protesters.
The demonstrators' anger was also openly directed against President Emmanuel Macron, who was called for to resign.
Barnier’s party is only the fifth largest group
Left-wing parties accuse Macron of ignoring the result of the parliamentary elections around two months ago by selecting the former EU Commissioner. Since then, Barnier's centre-right party, Les Républicains, has only been the fifth largest group with fewer than 50 MPs.
The New Popular Front (NFP) became the strongest force. However, Macron refused to ask them to form a government because other parties do not want to work with the left-wing movement.
Following the appointment of 73-year-old Barnier, who led the Brexit negotiations as EU Commissioner, trade unions, student representatives and, above all, the left-wing parties called for mass demonstrations.
France faces a wave of strikes
According to a survey published on Friday by the Elabe polling institute, 74 percent of French people believe that Macron has disregarded the election result. France is facing a wave of strikes on October 1, which was already announced with the call for demonstrations for today.
Macron had called for new elections following the rise of the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN) in the European elections. However, his own movement Ensemble lost its majority in parliament in the vote in early July.
The French constitution gives the president the right to appoint whomever he wants to the office of prime minister. However, this person must be able to survive a vote of no confidence from the opposition. However, the NFP and RN together form a majority and could – if they work together – overthrow the head of government.
Bardella: Barnier is under observation
Both camps had railed strongly against some of Macron's unpopular reform proposals. These include, above all, the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64. Barnier announced that he would support the reform. The RN will be the kingmaker in this constellation, as the party has assured Barnier under certain conditions that it will not take part in a vote of no confidence.
RN leader Jordan Bardella told broadcaster BFM that Barnier was a prime minister under observation. “Without us, nothing will happen.” Barnier explained in his first interview after his appointment that he wanted to unite the fragmented parliament and at the same time pursue a tougher course in immigration policy.
At 73, Barnier is the oldest prime minister in the history of the Fifth French Republic and succeeds the liberal Gabriel Attal, who at 34 was the youngest in the office.
