Thousands of left-wing voters demonstrated in France today against the “coup” of President Emmanuel Macron, who finally appointed a centre-right prime minister, Michel Barnier, nearly two months after July’s parliamentary elections.
“Rejection of democracy”, “the French did not vote for this”, “he (Macron) should resign”: dissatisfaction, indignation and anger dominated the processions formed by the demonstrators against the appointment of Michel Barnier (of the Republican party -Les Républicains /LR), in a seat that Emmanuel Macron denied to Lucie Caste, the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP), the left-wing coalition that came first in July’s early parliamentary elections.
There was no absolute majority in these elections, which left the National Assembly divided into three groups: the left, the center-right and the far-right.
Nearly 150 demonstrations were planned across France, rallies organized even before Michel Barnier’s appointment on Thursday, after sixty days of waiting and consultation.
“We really feel that we are not being heard as voters,” said Cindy Rodineau, a 40-year-old photographer, and her partner Auben Gourot, a 42-year-old farmer, in Nantes, western France, who say they are “very angry”.
Insubordinate France (radical left) or Palestinian flags wave in the wind in Marseille, in the south-east of the country, with organizers shouting through loudspeakers before the demonstration which drew 3,500 people (according to police) and 12,000 (according to organizers ).
“We feel that our vote was stolen from us,” says 24-year-old student Oreli Malfan. Like her, in the processions, young people came en masse.
“On Macron’s part, I think regardless of the outcome of the vote, he already had in mind who he wanted to make prime minister. I think that in any case expressing your vote does not help anything as long as Macron is in power,” complains Manon Bonizol, 21, who went to protest in Paris.
The French presidency said the choice of 73-year-old Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former chief Brexit negotiator, was dictated by his ability to “unite as much as possible” amid a fragmented political landscape.
Alexandra Germain, a 44-year-old project manager, expresses bitterness: “A dictatorship is underway. It’s been a while since we weren’t heard on the streets, now they don’t even listen to us at the polls. Protesting is my only way of saying that I don’t agree, even if I understand very well that it does no good.”
Read also
The crucial Central Committee of SYRIZA is meeting – Kasselakis has been questioned
School supplies and electricity bring households to their knees – In its world, the government celebrates alleged reductions
The background to Koumoundourou – This Sunday at Documento
Weather: Up to 34 degrees on Saturday – When showers and storms come
#Effervescence #France #AntiMacron #protests #appoint #Barnier #prime #minister
