France Erupts in Protests Against Michel Barnier’s Appointment as Prime Minister.
France:
Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday to voice their opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Michel Barnier as the new prime minister. Barnier, a 73-year-old center-right politician and former Brexit negotiator for the EU, is the oldest individual to assume the role in modern French history.
Barnier’s appointment follows over 50 days of a caretaker government and comes amid a fragmented parliament resulting from a June election called by Macron. Critics, especially from the left-wing France Unbowed party, argue that Barnier’s conservative background represents a disregard for the electorate’s will, exacerbating the already polarized political climate.
In Paris, demonstrations were particularly intense, with protesters gathering at Place de la Bastille. Many carried signs questioning the democratic legitimacy of Barnier’s appointment. France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who led the Paris march, described the situation as a “revolution,” urging his supporters to continue the fight.
Organizers estimated that about 300,000 people demonstrated nationwide, including 160,000 in Paris, though police reported around 26,000 protesters in the capital.
In his first official visit as prime minister, Barnier met with healthcare workers at Paris’ Necker Hospital. He has pledged to address public concerns, particularly regarding France’s public services, as he works to form his cabinet and navigate the challenges posed by the current political climate.
