Around a hundred demonstrators gathered in Digne-les-Bains this Saturday to protest against the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. Another demonstration is planned this afternoon in Manosque.
They denounce a denial of democracy. A hundred demonstrators mobilized this Saturday morning in Digne-les-Bains. Banners and placards in hand, they gathered in front of the gates of the prefecture.
Together, they pointed out the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister. For them, the legislative elections were not respected by Emmanuel Macron. “We are opposed to the coup that Macron is making. The French people voted for change, to have a left-wing government and we find ourselves with a government that is going to be right-wing. It is going to be led by a leader of the smallest politician who lost the elections,” denounces Gilbert, a resident of Volonne.
An opinion shared by Jean-Claude, who came from Bayons. For him, “Macron was in the minority” after the elections.
“An insult, beyond the denial of democracy”
The demonstrators took turns for several minutes to speak on Avenue du Docteur Romieu. A delegation will then be received by the prefect of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
“We came to meet him to tell him that we demand respect for the message sent by the French people during the last legislative elections, the French people who put the New Popular Front in the lead. Emmanuel Macron refused to appoint Lucie Castets, the NFP candidate, to the post of Prime Minister. He did not even give a New Popular Front government the chance to present its program to the National Assembly,” explains Léo Walter, former deputy (NFP) in the 2nd constituency, on BFM DICI.
A decision which, for Anissa, LFI activist, is “really an insult, beyond the denial of democracy, to these people on the left who fought to form a united front against the National Rally”.
Today, residents are asking the government and the President of the Republic to take a step back. Another demonstration will take place this Saturday afternoon in Manosque.
Barbara Tornambé with Emma Forton
