The French Left Confirms Protests Against ‘Usurper’ Michel Barnier
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and PM Michel Barnier (R), 2024. Photo: X/ @PerspectiveActu
September 6, 2024 Hour: 1:18 pm
‘When the wind blows strong, it also sweeps away the weathercocks,’ warned Melenchon.
On Thursday, just hours after the appointment of Michel Barnier as prime minister, the Rebellious France party (La France Insoumise, LFI) announced that it would file a “Motion of No Confidence” against the future government and accused President Emmanuel Macron of disregarding the French people’s will.
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“Whatever happens, as soon as the budget report reaches the National Assembly in December, we will submit a motion of no confidence. That’s certain,” said LFI legislator Sebastien Delogu.
In late August, the leader of the LFI parliamentary group, Mathilde Panot, had already warned about the potential maneuver by the French right, stating that the left would file motions of no confidence against any government not led by Lucie Castets, whom the progressive forces had nominated for prime minister and who was supposed to take that position.
“President Macron has just officially denied the results of the legislative elections he himself called,” said LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon shortly after the Élysée Palace announced Michel Barnier as prime minister, contradicting the mandate of the French electorate.
“Usurper!… The confrontation begins! Woe to Barnier’s supporters! When the wind blows strong, it also sweeps away the weathercocks,” warned the leftist leader.
LFI legislator Clemence Guette emphasized that Macron has chosen to “perpetuate the old world of austerity and reactionary politics.” Meanwhile, LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard expressed outrage at “a double denial of the electoral result.”
“The New Popular Union came in first in the elections, Michel Barnier’s party received only 6.5 percent in the legislative elections and has 40 seats in the National Assembly,” he said, calling on citizens to take to the streets on Saturday. “In all European democracies, we start by calling the group that came in first,” complained Guette during a public broadcast.
The leader of the ecologists, Marine Tondelier, also mentioned a motion of no confidence “as soon as possible.” Fabien Roussel, the secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), supported this position.
“The New Popular Front won the legislative elections. President Emmanuel Macron refuses to recognise this result. Respect for the vote is a fundamental principle of democracy. Let’s put an end to this authoritarian drift!” said youth organisations linked to La France Insoumise.
“Let’s mobilise everywhere to force the President to respect the people’s choice: the minimum wage at 1,600 euros, the freezing of prices, retirement at 60, the fight against racism, free schooling, the recognition of the State of Palestine, and the entire programme of the New Popular Front,” they added, describing what Macron did as a coup.
Among the youth organisations calling for the desert protests are the Student Union, the Secondary School Union, Young Rebels, Young Ecologists, Anticapitalist Youth, New Anticapitalist Party, The Ecologists, and the Federation of Study Societies.
So far, they have planned to hold marches in around 50 French cities starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The new French government is expected to be officially announced next week. However, the Constitution does not impose a deadline for the appointment of ministers.
teleSUR/ JF Source: RT – LFI
