Thousands flood France's streets to protest against Macron appointing Michel Barnier as PM

Thousands of people took to the streets across France on Saturday (September 7) to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint center-right politician Michel Barnier as prime minister, with left-wing parties accusing Macron of ignoring the results of the recent legislative elections.

Macron named Barnier, a 73-year-old conservative and the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as PM on Thursday (September 5) after a two-month search. The decision followed a legislative election that resulted in a hung parliament, divided into three major blocs.

Accusations of election denial

Barnier’s appointment has sparked backlash, particularly from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party and the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which came out on top in the July vote. Left-wing leaders accused Macron of a “denial of democracy” by choosing Barnier over the NFP’s candidate.

A poll conducted by Elabe on Friday showed that 74 per cent of French citizens believe Macron disregarded the election results, and 55 per cent think he “stole” the election by appointing Barnier, whose Les Républicains party holds only a small share of seats in parliament.

Protests organised by left-wing parties, unions, and student groups erupted in cities across the country, with 130 demonstrations reported. The protests are expected to continue, with unions threatening further action, including potential strikes set for October 1.

Barnier faces a divided parliament

Barnier, in his first interview as prime minister on Friday, said his government would include members from Macron’s camp, conservatives, and potentially some from the left. However, his task of governing may prove difficult as he lacks a clear majority in parliament.

The far-right National Rally (RN) party, which holds a significant number of seats, has emerged as a key player. While RN leader Jordan Bardella indicated the party may not immediately push for a no-confidence vote against Barnier, he warned that the new prime minister was “under surveillance” and that nothing could be accomplished without the RN’s support.

With an urgent 2025 budget proposal due in early October and pressure from the European Commission to reduce France’s deficit, Barnier’s ability to navigate the political landscape will be tested in the coming weeks.

With inputs from agencies