Iran Press/ Europe: Thousands of people have taken to the streets across France to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint centre-right Michel Barnier as PM, with left-wing parties accusing him of stealing legislative elections.
Protests took place in Paris as well as other cities including Nantes in the west, Nice and Marseille in the south, and Strasbourg in the east.
On Thursday, Macron named 73-year-old Barnier, a conservative and the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator, as prime minister, capping a two-month-long search following Macron’s ill-fated decision to call a legislative election that delivered a hung parliament divided into three blocs.
The left, led by the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, has accused Macron of stealing the election after Macron refused to pick the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance that came top in the July vote.
Many demonstrators directed their anger at Macron and some called on him to resign.
“The Fifth Republic is collapsing,” said protester Manon Bonijol. “Expressing one’s vote will be useless as long as Macron is in power.”
In his first interview as government chief, Barnier said on Friday night that his government, which lacks a clear majority, will include conservatives, and members of Macron’s camp, and he hoped some from the left.
He faces the daunting task of trying to drive reforms and the 2025 budget, as France is under pressure from the European Commission and bond markets to reduce its deficit.
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