After weeks of stagnation, Emmanuel Macron has appointed a prime minister – but many supporters of the left feel betrayed. Now there are protests.
In France, thousands of people protested against the appointment of the conservative politician Michel Barnier as prime minister. The main initiator of the demonstrations was the extreme left party La France Insoumise. They are dissatisfied that President Emmanuel Macron did not entrust the left wing with forming a government despite its victory in the parliamentary elections, but instead appointed a representative of the conservative Républicains.
According to media reports, the authorities expect around 15,000 demonstrators in over 100 cities nationwide, including Bordeaux, Paris and Nantes.
The left-wing coalition emerged as the winner from the early parliamentary elections almost two months ago, ahead of Macron’s centrist camp and Marine Le Pen’s right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National in third place. Since the left-wing alliance did not receive an absolute majority and the parties were also unable to form a coalition capable of governing in recent weeks, the political situation in France is difficult. Barnier is already being accused of possibly only being able to govern with the tolerance of Marine Le Pen’s right-wing nationalists.
