The new Prime Minister visited the Necker Hospital in Paris, while several demonstrations brought together thousands of people, at the initiative of La France Insoumise.
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![New Prime Minister Michel Barnier, during his first official visit to Necker Hospital, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, on September 7, 2024. (LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP)](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/pictures/SxbJAP-6kP6cg5iokgtenpG1BcQ/0x53:1024x629/432x243/2024/09/07/000-36fr8c3-66dca0974587b949810833.jpg)
Two days after Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, he chose to visit a hospital for his first official visit, while thousands of people gathered in many cities across France to protest his appointment. Franceinfo takes a look at what to remember from the political news on Saturday, September 7.
Michel Barnier visits Necker Hospital in Paris
The new Prime Minister Michel Barnier made his first official visit on Saturday afternoon to the Necker Hospital in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. At the end of this visit, he spoke at a press briefing where he made various announcements. He declared that a government would be appointed “in the next few days” and assured that he will make a general policy statement “early October”.
The head of government also declared that he was not there.“to make announcements, nor to make a show of it”. “I will not do it throughout my term as Prime Minister, it is not my temperament”he assured. The new Prime Minister also promised that “Public health will be a priority in the countryside and in the cities”faced with caregivers who denounce a lack of “sufficient human resources”.
Protests against “Macron’s coup” in many cities
The protests against the appointment of Michel Barnier to Matignon brought together 110,000 people in France, according to the Interior Ministry, including 26,000 in Paris, the Paris police prefecture said. On Xthe president of the rebellious group in the National Assembly, Mathilde Panot, claims, “160,000 people in Paris” And “300,000 across the country”.
Elsewhere in France, some 150 demonstrations were planned, according to the organizers. In the largest cities, the demonstrations brought together several thousand people. In Rennes, the demonstration brought together 5,800 people, according to the police. In the Bouches-du-Rhône, in Marseille, the police prefecture claims that 3,500 people marched in the streets. The organizers speak of 12,000 people.
Jordan Bardella believes that “nothing can be done without the RN”
The president of the National Rally (RN) believes that the Prime Minister is “under surveillance” of his party. The fact of not having chosen “A priori censorship” does not mean that there will be no “censorship in the coming months”he warned, however. “Nothing can be done without us”he added to the press, while visiting the Châlons-en-Champagne fair (Marne).
“I am under the surveillance of all French people. The government is under the democratic surveillance of all French people and all political groups.”declared Michel Barnier later in the day, on the sidelines of his first trip as head of government, to the Necker hospital in Paris.
In the evening, Jordan Bardella, guest on the 8 p.m. news on TF1, declared that the National Rally will not participate “to institutional disorder and democratic chaos” by immediately overthrowing the future government of Michel Barnier. “If, on the other hand, he is the new front man for Macronism (…) then this government will fall”he added.
Prime Minister continues consultations to form government
Michel Barnier met on Saturday morning with former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and then with the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, during a lunch. On Sunday morning, he will receive Edouard Philippe, Laurent Marcangeli and Claude Malhuret, Matignon announced. During his trip to Necker Hospital, The Prime Minister assured that a government would be appointed in the coming days.