The political groups on the left in France claim they have come together to create a “new popular front” in order to challenge the far right in early parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of this month.
Following the overwhelming success of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella’s anti-immigration National Rally (RN) in Sunday’s European elections, President Emmanuel Macron announced a two-round vote.
The most current opinion poll predicts that RN will receive 32% of the vote in the first round on June 30. The left-wing alliance will come in second with 25% of the vote, and Mr. Macron’s Renew will come in third with 19%.
Each has responded by asserting that it will create a “block” to keep the others from taking control of the National Assembly.
There are just over two weeks until French voters cast their ballots, but the campaigning has already begun in earnest, with the three main parties taking direct aim at one another.
The two-round system and divided political environment in France foster coalitions, which is why the Socialists have decided to team up with the Communists, Greens, and Jean-Luc Mélénchon’s far-left group, France Unbowed.
By focusing on criticizing Israel for the Gaza conflict, the former presidential candidate has alienated a lot of left-leaning supporters. His party lost last Sunday’s elections to the Socialists led by Raphaël Glucksmann.
