French Left Protests Over New PM Michel Barnier

Protests have erupted in France following the appointment of Michel Barnier as the new prime minister. Left-wing political parties, whose candidate Lucie Castets was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron, are leading the demonstrations. The protests stem from frustration over Macron’s choice of Barnier, a former EU Brexit negotiator from the center-right, rather than Castets, who represented the largest bloc in the National Assembly following a political deadlock after parliamentary elections.

Key Issues:

1. Political Deadlock: The elections resulted in three strong blocs, with none holding a majority. Although the left held the largest share, Macron chose Barnier, causing outrage among left-leaning parties.
2. Barnier’s Approach: Barnier, 73, expressed willingness to form a government that includes members from across the political spectrum, including those from the left. However, the left sees him as too dependent on the far-right National Rally for survival in office.
3. Left-Wing Response: Jean-Luc Mélenchon from France Unbowed has called for mass protests, urging significant mobilization against the appointment. Left-wing leaders argue that Macron’s rejection of their candidate betrays the left and aligns him closer to the far-right.
4. Far-Right Reaction: National Rally leaders, including Marine Le Pen, have stated they will not join Barnier’s government but could support him depending on his policies. Without National Rally’s backing, Barnier may struggle to secure a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.

Government Formation:

Barnier has started forming his government, holding discussions with various political leaders, including those from Macron’s centrist Ensemble group and the right-wing Republicans. Talks appear positive, with Ensemble showing openness to a broad front with both the left and right.

As protests continue, the French political landscape remains tense. Barnier’s ability to navigate through the left-wing opposition and garner enough support from the far-right will determine the stability of his tenure as prime minister

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