France sees thousands of protests against new centre-right Prime Minister Barnier

Tens of thousands of people protested across France against the appointment of right-wing Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, after an inconclusive election in which the left won the most seats.

Protests continue in cities including Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Starsbourg.

The protests were called by labor unions and left-wing political parties, who were furious that their candidate for the presidency was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Barnier, a former EU Brexit negotiator, said he was open to forming a government with politicians across the political spectrum, including the left.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a veteran of France’s Unbowed party, called for “the most powerful mobilization possible” for the national march.

There are about 130 demonstrations, and the largest of them is from the center of Paris on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Mélenchon joined the protest in Paris, giving a speech behind a float emblazoned with the slogan: “For democracy, stop Macron’s coup”.

Protesters also used slogans such as “denying democracy” and “stolen elections”.

Left-wing parties are angry that their candidate for prime minister, Lucie Castets, was rejected by Mr Macron, who said he had no chance of surviving a vote of confidence by the National Assembly.

Mr Barnier may be able to survive the vote of confidence because the fair right, which also won the majority of seats, has said it will not vote against him.

That has led to criticism that his government will depend on distant allies.

“We have a prime minister who is completely dependent on the National Rally,” said Ms Castets.

Mr Barnier spent Saturday afternoon visiting a children’s hospital in Paris, where he highlighted the importance of public services, but told health workers that his government “will not perform miracles”, local broadcaster BFMTV reported.

Against the backdrop of protests, the new Prime Minister is focused on forming a new government.

After talks with the leaders of the Republicans and the presidential party Ensemble, he said the talks are going very well and “full of energy”.

Some on the left regretted keeping Mr Barnier as prime minister.

The Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, revealed that the president considered the former Socialist prime minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, but his party rejected him.

Another Socialist Mayor, Karim Bouamrane, blamed the dishonesty of some parts of the left coalition: “The way they chose was 100% or nothing – and here we have nothing.”