Paris (Agencies)
Thousands took to the streets across France yesterday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint centre-right Michel Barnier as prime minister.
Macron appointed Barnier, the 73-year-old former EU Brexit negotiator, as prime minister on Thursday, ending a two-month search after his decision to hold legislative elections that left a hung parliament divided into three blocs.
Barnier said in his first interview in his new post on Tuesday evening that his government, which lacks a clear majority, will include conservative politicians and members of Macron’s camp, and that he hopes to include some from the left.
The conservative politician faces an uphill task trying to push through reforms and pass the country’s 2025 budget at a time when France is under pressure from the European Commission and bond markets to cut its budget deficit.
Leftists, led by the France Insoumise party, accuse Macron of denying democracy after he refused to choose the candidate of the New Popular Front coalition that won the July elections.
The Elabe polling firm published a survey the day before yesterday showing that 74% of the French believe that Macron ignored the election results.
Leaders of left-wing parties, unions and student bodies have called for mass protests ahead of new actions, including possible strikes on October 1, in response to the appointment of Barnier, whose Les Républicains party came fifth in parliament with fewer than 50 seats.
France Insoumise party said 130 protests would be held across the country.
Barnier continued consultations to form a government yesterday, a difficult task given that he faces a possible vote of no confidence. An urgent draft of the 2025 budget is also due to be discussed in parliament in early October.
The New Popular Front alliance and the far-right National Rally party hold a majority, and both could oust the prime minister via a no-confidence vote if they decide to cooperate.
The National Rally party gave its tacit approval to Barnier, stating that there were a number of conditions for it not to support a vote of no confidence, which would make the party actually responsible for forming a new government.
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