Thousands protest in France against Macron's choice of prime minister

More than 100,000 demonstrators rallied across France on Saturday against Emmanuel Macron's decision to pick centre-right politician Michel Barnier as prime minister, with leftist parties accusing the president of ignoring election results.

Macron named 73-year-old Barnier, a conservative and the former Brexit negotiator for the European Union, as prime minister on Thursday, capping a two-month search following his ill-fated decision to call a snap legislative election that delivered a hung parliament. 

The protests were a response to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized Macron's decision to bypass a prime minister from the far-left bloc, calling it a "power grab."

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose France Unbowed party (LFI) and allies belong to the left-wing bloc, argued that the election had been "stolen from the French."

"Democracy is not only the art of knowing how to accept victory, but the humility to accept defeat," Melenchon told protesters at the start of the march in eastern Paris.

"I call on you to undertake a long battle."

'Old elephant' 

The organizers said around 300,000 people protested peacefully in some 150 locations across France, including 160,000 in Paris, while the Interior Ministry said 110,000 people took to the streets nationwide. 

"He [Barnier] has no social conscience and will constitute a government which will be in the same line as the previous ones. So that is enough now," civil servant Jeanne Schmitt, 45, said on the sidelines of the Paris march.

Abel Couaillier, a 20-year-old student, said he was stunned by the appointment of Barnier, whom he called an "old elephant". 

"I am still young, I want to believe that we can change things," added Couaillier.

Another protester, 21-year-old Manon Bonjiol said, "Expressing one's vote will be useless as long as Macron is in power."

Pollster Elabe published a survey on Friday showing that 74 percent of French people considered Macron had disregarded the results of the elections, with 55 percent believing he had "stolen" them.

Back to business

Barnier meanwhile made his first official visit as prime minister, meeting staff at a Paris hospital. 

As he looks to form a government, Barnier expressed a commitment to listening to public concerns, particularly about France's public services. 

"Without carrying out miracles, we can make improvements," Barnier told reporters. He said he was open to naming ministers of all political stripes, including "people from the left."

Barnier, 73, is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers that have served modern France's Fifth Republic and replaces the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago.

Though Barnier brings five decades of political experience, he faces the daunting task of trying to drive reforms and pass the 2025 budget with the threat of a no-confidence vote hanging over him at the start of October, when he is due to outline his policy objectives to parliament.

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