THE French presidential palace unveiled a new government dominated by rightwingers and centrists at the weekend, more than two months after a left-wing coalition won the most seats in a parliamentary election but fell short of an overall majority.
President Emmanuel Macron named conservative Michel Barnier as prime minister earlier this month, even though the latter’s Republicans did badly in the elections.
Mr Macron’s refusal to allow the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance to try to form a minority administration has sparked continuing anger, with more nationwide protests taking place on Saturday.
From Reform UK to Trump, Orban and beyond, the far right is organised across borders and growing. Waiting for it to collapse is a fatal error – building an international, locally rooted left alternative is now an urgent necessity., argues ROGER McKENZIE
The desperate French president keeps running up the same political cul-de-sac. DENNIS BROE offers an explanation



