Hundreds of thousands take to the streets of France to protest against right-wing ‘power grab’

HUNDREDS of thousands took to the streets on Saturday, responding to a call from France’s alliance of left-wing parties, who have condemned the appointment of a conservative new prime minister, Michel Barnier, as a power grab.

More than 150 protests across the country challenged President Emmanuel Macron’s decision not to appoint a PM from the far-left bloc following July’s indecisive national assembly election.

The left, particularly communists (PCF) and the France Unbowed party, view Mr Barnier’s appointment as rejecting the electorate’s will after their alliance, the New Popular Front, topped the poll.

In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille, where tensions ran high as police flexed for clashes. Communist Party of France senator for Paris Ian Brossat called on protesters — in what turned out to be a peaceful demonstration — to oppose “the denial of democracy.” He said: “It is the left that wins the elections, but it is the right that governs.”

PCF spokesman Leon Deffontaines said: “We call on all forces to go and mobilise — at their place of study, in their workplace — the workers, the unions, to organise, to stand together.”

“The French people are in rebellion. They have entered into revolution,” France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon declared. “There will be no pause, no truce. I call you to a long-term battle.”

The new PM met healthcare workers at a Paris hospital on his first official visit. Mr Barnier, who is working to assemble his cabinet, expressed a commitment to listening to public concerns, particularly about France’s public services.

Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), warned that Mr Barnier was “under surveillance” by his party and called for the PM to prioritise policies such as national security and immigration.

Having ignored the New Popular Front nomination of civil servant Lucie Castets to be PM, sources claim that Mr Macron had been intending to appoint right-winger Xavier Bertrand to the role. According to these sources, the nomination of Mr Bertrand was vetoed by RN leader Marine Le Pen in a phone call between her and the president.

Though Mr Barnier brings five decades of political experience, his ability to govern is now widely seen to be at the behest of the far right, despite the RN only coming third in July’s election.