PARIS -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, responding to a call from a far-left party leader who criticized as a power grab the president's appointment of a conservative new prime minister, Michel Barnier.

The protests are a direct challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's decision to choose a prime minister outside of the far-left bloc following a highly divisive legislative election in July. The left, particularly the France Unbowed party, sees Barnier's conservative background as disregarding the voters' will, further escalating the tensions in the EU's second largest economy.

Authorities anticipated a massive turnout of demonstrators. In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la Bastille, and tensions were high as police prepared for potential clashes. Rallies were also held in 150 locations across the country, including the southwestern cities of Montauban and Auch.

In Montauban, protesters condemned Barnier's appointment as a betrayal of democracy, echoing the passionate rhetoric of France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon in recent days. “The voice of the people has been ignored,” a rally speaker declared to the crowd.

While Barnier was visiting Necker Hospital in Paris for his first official engagement as prime minister, opponents contend that the public unrest is significantly influencing the future of his government.

Barnier, who is working to assemble his team of ministers, stated his commitment to listening to the concerns of the public, especially regarding France's public services.

Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), warned that Barnier was “under surveillance” by his party as well. Bardella, speaking at the Chalons-en-Champagne fair, demanded that the prime minister include his party's priorities in his agenda, specifically focusing on national security and immigration.

Barnier, at 73, is the oldest of the 26 prime ministers who have served France's modern Fifth Republic. He succeeds the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when he was appointed just eight months ago .

Attal was forced to step down after Macron's centrist government faced a significant setback in the July snap legislative elections. Macron called the election hoping for a clear mandate, but it resulted in a divided parliament, leaving the president without a majority in the legislature and causing considerable turmoil within his administration.

Attal was also the first openly gay prime minister of France. French media and some of Macron's opponents, who quickly criticized Barnier's appointment, unearthed that, while serving in parliament in 1981, the new prime minister had been among 155 lawmakers who voted against legislation decriminalizing homosexuality.

Although Barnier brings five decades of political experience, his appointment does not guarantee a resolution to the crisis. He faces a monumental task: Forming a government capable of navigating a fragmented National Assembly, where the political spectrum is deeply divided between the far left, far right, and Macron's weakened centrist group. The snap election, rather than offering clarity, has only further destabilized the nation and Macron's hold on power.

The president's decision to turn to Barnier, a seasoned political figure with deep ties to the European Union, is viewed as an attempt to stabilize French politics. Barnier, known for his prominence as the EU's lead Brexit negotiator, has faced formidable challenges before.

Critics contend that Macron, elected on a promise of breaking from the old political order, now finds himself grappling with the instability he promised to overcome.