“Macron denies democracy, he should resign”

The appointment of Michel Barnier as the new Prime Minister of France has been the trigger for part of the French left to take to the streets this Sunday. Thousands of people across the country, 110,000 According to the French Interior Ministry, they have demanded the resignation of the president Emmanuel Macronclaiming that he “denies democracy” by not listening to the progressive majority that emerged from the ballot boxes in the legislative elections. They even accuse the tenant of the Elysée Palace of being a “dictator” and of “treason”.

The left, led by the far-left party France Insoumise (LFI), has accused Macron of steal the electionsafter Macron refused to choose the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which got first place in the parliamentary vote in July.

From banners calling for Macron’s resignation, considering him a traitor – “Macron, betrayal, resignation“- even chants of “Israel murderer, Macron complicit“, by a pro-Palestinian group that has joined the masses, thousands of demonstrators have joined the French left in the streets of the main cities of the country.

Among those present at the Paris demonstration were the leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon; the president of the LFI group in the National Assembly, Mathilde Panot; as well as the leader of the Communist Party, Fabien Rousselamong other political figures.

“Censorship, mobilization, dismissal“These were the key words of LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who urged his followers to “mobilise as powerfully as possible.”

LFI, which is part of the New Popular Front (NFP, a coalition of left-wing parties), is thus organizing its response on the streets, Two months after the legislative elections who won, but without an absolute majority in the National Assembly to impose his candidate for prime minister.

On the contrary, Macron appointed Barnier as prime minister on Thursday, a 73-year-old conservative and former Brexit negotiator of the European Union, culminating a two-month quest following his ill-fated decision to call legislative elections that resulted in a parliament divided into three blocs.

Minority government

In his first interview as head of government, Barnier declared on Friday evening that his government, which lacks a clear majoritywill include conservatives, members of Macron’s camp and hopefully some from the left.

Barnier faces the daunting task of Push through reforms and the 2025 budgetas France is under pressure from the European Commission and bond markets to reduce its deficit.

Pollster Elabe released a survey on Friday showing that 74% of French people considered that Macron had ignored the results of the elections, with 55% believing that they had been stolen.

In response to the appointment of Barnier, whose centre-right Republicans party It’s only the fifth block in parliament with less than 50 legislatorsleaders of left-wing parties, unions and student bodies called for mass protests on Saturday, anticipating further actions, including Possible strikes on October 1.

Barnier continued consultations on Saturday as he seeks to form a government, a difficult task given that faces a potential vote of no confidenceespecially with an urgent 2025 budget project to be discussed in parliament in early October.

RN Support

The NFP and the far-right National Rally (RN) party together have a majority and could dismiss the prime minister through a motion of censure if they decide to collaborate.

The RN has given its tacit approval to Barnier, citing a series of conditions for not supporting a motion of censure, thus becoming the ‘de facto magic king’ of the new government.

“He is a prime minister under surveillance,” declared the leader of the RN party, Jordan Bardellato BFM on Saturday. “Nothing can be done without us.”