The streets of France erupted in massive protests on September 7, 2024 in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s of Michel Barnier, a centre-right politician and former EU Brexit negotiator, as Prime Minister.
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On Thursday, September 5, 2024, President Macron appointed 73-year-old Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. Barnier is a member of the conservative Les Républicains party and known for his role as the European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator.
His appointment followed two months of political deadlock after a general election in July 2024 resulted in a hung parliament.
Macron had been searching for a candidate capable of bridging the gap between various political factions, but his decision to choose Barnier has enraged the left, who claim that the appointment undermines the election results.
The July 2024 general election saw three major political blocs emerge with no clear majority, New Popular Front (NPF), A left-wing alliance led by France Unbowed (LFI), which won the largest number of seats.
Macron’s centrist Renaissance party formed a coalition with other centre-right factions but fell short of a majority. The far-right party led by Marine Le Pen also gained seats.
Despite NPF winning the most seats Macron rejected their candidate for Prime Minister, Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old civil servant.
The left-wing opposition led by the New Popular Front (NPF) and its party, France Unbowed (LFI) called for nationwide protests against Barnier’s appointment.
The French interior ministry reported that 110,000 people participated in protests across the country including 26,000 in Paris. However, protest leaders claimed the figure was closer to 300,000.
More than 130 protests took place across France including in major cities such as Marseille, Nice, Nantes and Strasbourg.
Protest slogans like denial of democracy and stolen election show the anger of the rprotestors, who believe Macron has disregarded the people’s will by choosing a centre-right prime minister.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon was at the forefront of the protests, calling for a powerful mobilisation to challenge Macron’s decision. Addressing protesters in Paris from the back of a float emblazoned with the slogan “For democracy, stop Macron’s coup,” Mélenchon accused the president of stealing the election.
Many on the left feel betrayed by Macron’s appointment of Barnier, arguing that it opens the door for far-right influence in the government.
Lucie Castets criticized Barnier as being completely dependent on National Rally, referencing the far-right party’s role in supporting Barnier’s government.
Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the Socialist Party accused Macron of putting himself under the control of the RN. Socialist Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other left-wing figures have also voiced frustration, blaming internal divisions within the left-wing alliance for their failure to secure the prime ministership.
In a press conference held in Hénin-Beaumont, a stronghold of her far-right National Rally party, Le Pen categorically denied any involvement in Barnier’s appointment, stating: “I am not Macron’s head of human resources.”
She clarified that she did not have any discussions with Macron regarding Barnier’s selection and played no role in his decision-making process.
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Le Pen called for a national referendum on critical issues such as immigration, healthcare and security. She addressed that the RN would fully support any move to give the people of France the power to decide directly on these matters.
The far-right leader also issued a warning, stating that if Barnier’s government fails to prioritize the needs and concerns of the French people, her party would not hesitate to support a vote of no-confidence.
Le Pen also predicted that France could face fresh legislative elections within a year, as she believes the current politics requires a clear majority to function effectively.
An Ifop poll conducted shortly after Barnier’s appointment indicated that 52% of respondents were satisfied with his selection as Prime Minister. Barnier is regarded as competent (62% approval), open to dialogue (61%) and likeable (60%).
74% of those polled believed that Barnier’s tenure would be short-lived with many questioning his ability to hold power in a fractured political environment.
Gabriel Attal, who held the position of Prime Minister for just under a year, gained similar public approval when he took office in January 2024, though Barnier is seen as a more experienced figure in French politics due to his career including his role as the European Union’s Brexit negotiator.
Over 100,000 protestors took to the streets across France to protest Barnier’s appointment, labeling Macron’s decision a power grab and accusing him of ignoring the results of the legislative elections.
In Paris alone over 26,000 protesters voiced their discontent with larger protests taking place in cities like Nantes, Nice, Marseille and Strasbourg.
The left-wing bloc led by the radical La France Insoumise (LFI) party and its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has been vocal in denouncing Barnier’s appointment.
The coalition had proposed Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old economist, for the role of Prime Minister, arguing that she better represented the political mandate from the elections.
Mélenchon called the snap election outcome a stolen election and urged supporters to continue fighting.
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