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French left parties reject the appointment of Barnier as country's new PM
Michel Barnier, supporter of conservative presidential candidate Valerie Pecresse speaks during a campaign rally on February 13, 2022 in Paris

FRENCH left parties today rejected the appointment of former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as the country’s new prime minister and called for nationwide protests.

The appointment of Mr Barnier follows weeks of stalling by President Emmanuel Macron to find an alternative candidate to one put forward by the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) coalition, which won the most seats in July’s National Assembly election.

The NPF had nominated civil servant Lucie Castets to be prime minister.

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