French left backs protests after Macron rejects PM choice

The French president says the New Popular Front coalition could not win a confidence vote in parliament.

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The four-party coalition won the most seats in last month's parliamentary elections and said its candidate, Paris civil servant Lucie Castets, should be named prime minister, even though they fell far short of a majority.

President Macron said France needed institutional stability and the left could not win a confidence vote that would come immediately from its opponents in parliament.

The biggest of the four left-wing parties, France Unbowed, called for a big demonstration on 7 September.

The Communist leader also backed a "big popular mobilisation" in the coming days, although the Socialists indicated that for now there was an urgent need for political discussion.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevj87eypewo

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