Protesters Enraged As Macron Steps Out To Appoint Michel Barnier As New PM

On Saturday, thousands of protesters took to the streets across France in response to Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint Michel Barnier, a center-right politician and former EU Brexit negotiator, as the new prime minister.

The protests were driven by accusations from left-wing parties that Macron had disregarded the results of the legislative elections, effectively “stealing” the outcome.

Macron’s appointment of Barnier followed a two-month search for a new prime minister after his controversial decision to call a legislative election that resulted in a hung parliament, with the country divided into three major political blocs.

Barnier, in his first interview as prime minister on Friday, acknowledged the challenges of leading a government without a clear majority.

He expressed his intent to include conservatives, members of Macron’s centrist camp, and potentially some from the left in his administration.

Barnier’s new government faces significant challenges, including enacting reforms and addressing France’s growing deficit.

The European Commission and bond markets have increased pressure on France to reduce its budget shortfall ahead of the 2025 budget.

Macron’s move has ignited fury among left-wing groups, particularly the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, which, along with other members of the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, accused the president of undermining democracy by not selecting their candidate, despite the NFP leading in the July elections.

A poll by Elabe on Friday revealed that 74% of the French public felt Macron had ignored the election results, and 55% believed he had effectively stolen the elections.

The left-wing response to Barnier’s appointment was swift, with party leaders, unions, and student organizations calling for widespread protests.

On Saturday, 130 protests were reported nationwide, and further action, including possible strikes, was scheduled for October 1.

Meanwhile, Barnier continued consultations to form his government. He faces the immediate challenge of passing the 2025 draft budget in early October and navigating potential no-confidence votes in parliament.

The NFP and the far-right National Rally (RN) hold a majority in parliament, making a coalition between them a real threat to his leadership.

While the RN did not formally oppose Barnier’s appointment, the party imposed certain conditions for its support, effectively positioning itself as a critical player in the new government’s stability.

RN leader Jordan Bardella remarked that Barnier is “a prime minister under surveillance” and that “nothing can be done without us,” signaling their pivotal role in shaping the government’s future.