Protesters rally in France against Barnier’s appointment as prime minister

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across France, responding to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized as a power grab the president’s appointment of a new prime minister, Michel Barnier. The protests are a direct challenge to President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to bypass a prime minister from the far-left bloc following a deeply dividing legislative election in July. The left, particularly the France Unbowed party, views Barnier’s conservative background as rejecting the electorate’s will. In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille on Saturday and tensions ran high as police prepared for potential clashes.