Thousands took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint centre-right Michel Barnier as prime minister.

After left-wing party leaders, trade unions and student groups called for mass protests today and threatened new actions, including possible strikes on 1 October, in response to the appointment of Barnier, whose Republicans party came fifth in parliament with less than 50 seats.

Macron appointed Barnier, the 73-year-old former EU Brexit negotiator, as prime minister on Thursday, ending a two-month search after his decision to call legislative elections resulted in a hung parliament divided into three blocs.