Thousands of left-wing protesters march in opposition to Emmanuel Macron's “coup de force” after Michel Barnier's appointment | EUROtoday

Thousands of left-wing protesters marched in France on Saturday, September 7, in opposition to “the coup de force” by Emmanuel Macron. With some 150 mobilizations deliberate all through the nation, the left, La France insoumise (LFI) within the lead, has chosen the road as a warm-up for a political autumn that guarantees to be sizzling.

The chief of the “insoumis” deputies, Mathilde Panot, claimed 160,000 demonstrators in Paris and 300,000 in France. The prefecture has not but communicated its figures.

The initiative, launched on the finish of August by two scholar and highschool unions after which taken over by the “insoumis”, is a part of a broader technique of protest by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's troops, who’ve additionally filed a process for the impeachment of the President of the Republic within the National Assembly. An initiative that’s struggling to achieve help on the left: like the main commerce unions, the Socialist Party (PS) didn’t relay the decision to display on Saturday; and solely six elected ecologists and three abroad representatives have initialed, along with the LFI deputies, the impeachment proposal.

“Denial of democracy”, “The French didn't vote for this”, “that[e Macron] resign » : in the processions, the same words, often, to express the indignation and anger at the nomination of Michel Barnier (Les Républicains, LR) as Prime Minister – a post that the Head of State refused to Lucie Castets, the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP), who came out on top in the early legislative elections in July.

“An extended-lasting battle”

In Paris, the demonstration set off from Place de la Bastille at around 2:30 p.m. “Democracy is just not solely the artwork of accepting having gained, it is usually the humility of accepting having misplaced.”declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon, perched on a truck in the procession, addressing Emmanuel Macron. “There will likely be no pause, I name you to a long-lasting battle”the “rebellious” leader told the crowd.

The choice of Michel Barnier strengthened the determination of the demonstrators, even if the police only anticipated a limited turnout (between 4,000 and 8,000 people in Paris). “We see {that a} pact has been sealed between Macronie, the suitable and the acute proper”fumed MP (Seine-Saint-Denis) Aurélie Trouvé to the press, as shouts rang out in the crowd “Macron resign”. If Michel Barnier assured Friday that he was ready to work with the left, “nobody is fooled”added the “rebellious” elected official.

Michel Barnier benefited, in order to access Matignon, from the goodwill of the National Rally (RN), which decided to give him a chance. The new Prime Minister “appears to fulfill at the very least the primary criterion that we had requested, that’s to say somebody who’s respectful of the totally different political forces”reacted Marine Le Pen, after the announcement from the Elysée. “He is a person who has by no means been extreme in the way in which he has spoken concerning the National Rally, who has by no means ostracized the RN, he’s a person of debate”the leader of the far-right deputies further stressed.

“I feel that in any case, expressing one's vote will likely be ineffective so long as Macron is in energy.”castigated Manon Bonijol, 21, who came to demonstrate in Paris. Place de la Bastille, Abel Couaillier, 20, a student, confessed to being “shocked” by the appointment of Michel Barnier: “An previous political elephant that has nothing to do with the aspirations proven by the French.” “I need to imagine that we will change issues and I’ll proceed to vote, it's the one manner we now have to make issues change”he continued. Alexandra Germain, 44, a project manager, was much more bitter: “It's a dictatorship that’s being established. It's been some time since we had been listened to within the streets, now we’re not listened to on the poll field.”

Young people came in large numbers

Cindy Rondineau, a 40-year-old photographer, and her partner Aubin Gouraud, a 42-year-old farmer, have left-wing hearts but are not used to protesting. On Saturday morning, however, they traveled from Chaumes-en-Retz to Nantes – about thirty kilometers – to take part in the mobilization. “We actually really feel like we're not being listened to as voters”they said. Their 8-year-old daughter was carrying a sign “Macron, you’re screwed, the CE2s are in the street” in the middle of a family and good-natured procession which paraded behind a banner “Only one answer: impeachment”The demonstration brought together between 2,500 people, according to the prefecture, and 8,000 people, according to the organizers.

The turnout was smaller in Nice. In a department where RN, LR and the Eric Ciotti-RN union lists share all nine constituencies, between 900 and 1,000 people, depending on the source, marched behind the banner. “Let's defend our democracy”.

In Marseille, the demonstration brought together between 3,500 people (according to the police) and 12,000 people (according to the organizers). “We really feel like we've been robbed”said Aurélie Malfant, 24, a student. Like her, young people came in large numbers to the processions. “It looks as if there’ll by no means be a option to put the left in energy”regretted Louise, 30, in the Lyon procession. “We moved lots through the elections to go and vote, to be current and have this civic dedication and it was no use.”