Thousands take to streets over Barnier appointment

French left says move by Emmanuel Macron a 'power grab'

- THOMAS ADAMSON

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across France to protest president Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as prime minister – with left-wing parties accusing him of a “power grab”.

The left, led by the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, has accused Mr Macron of a denial of democracy and stealing the election after the president refused to pick the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance that came top in the July vote.

In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille and tensions ran high as police prepared for potential clashes. Some carried placards reading “Where is my vote?” At the head of the Parisian procession, LFI’s leader Jean-Luc Melenchon spoke passionately, declaring that “the French people are in rebellion. They have entered into revolution.” “There will be no pause, no truce. I call you to a long-term battle,” he added.

In the southwestern city of Montauban, a rally speaker told the crowd that “the people have been ignored”. Other protests took place in some 150 locations nationwide.