LEFT-WING leaders in France today called for mass protests against the refusal of President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a prime minister from the New Popular Front alliance (NPF).

The NPF, made up of communists, socialists, greens and France Unbowed, won most seats in last month’s national assembly elections, nominated Paris civil servant Lucie Castets to be the country’s next prime minister.

Only the French president has the authority to name a new prime minister from which a government will be constructed.