More than 100,000 left-wing demonstrators gathered across France on Saturday to protest the appointment of center-right Michel Barnier as prime minister and to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s alleged “power grab.”
According to the interior ministry, 110,000 people participated in nationwide protests, with 26,000 in Paris alone, while a prominent left-wing leader claimed the turnout was closer to 300,000 across the country. Demonstrations took place in major cities, including Nantes, Nice, Marseille, and Strasbourg.
The protests followed Macron’s appointment of Barnier, a 73-year-old former foreign minister and the EU’s Brexit negotiator, as prime minister on Thursday. The decision came after Macron’s centrist alliance came second in snap elections. Barnier expressed openness to forming a cabinet that included members from all political backgrounds, including the left.
However, a left-wing coalition, which became the largest bloc in parliament after the elections, criticized Macron’s decision. The coalition had proposed 37-year-old economist Lucie Castets for prime minister, but Macron rejected the idea, arguing she wouldn’t survive a confidence vote in the divided parliament.
Many protesters directed their frustration at Macron, with some calling for his resignation. A 21-year-old protester, Manon Bonijol, expressed concern over the state of France’s government, saying, “The Fifth Republic is collapsing.” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, accused Macron of “stealing” the election and urged supporters to prepare for continued resistance.
In Paris, Mélenchon said, “Democracy isn’t just about accepting victory; it’s about the humility to accept defeat,” emphasizing the importance of political balance.
Among the demonstrators, some voiced concerns about Barnier’s leadership, with 20-year-old student Abel Couaillier referring to him as an “old elephant” and hoping for change. Mathilde Panot, an LFI figure, claimed that 160,000 had marched in Paris and 300,000 across France, while five individuals were detained by police in Paris.
On the far-right, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party announced it would not join Barnier’s government and would assess his policies before deciding on further action. RN party president Jordan Bardella described Barnier as a prime minister “under surveillance,” a sentiment Barnier acknowledged, stating he was under the watch of all French citizens.
Barnier faces significant challenges, including presenting the 2025 budget by early October, while navigating a fragmented legislature where he will need to account for the interests of various parties to avoid a no-confidence motion.