Following President Macron’s abrupt dissolution of the National Assembly, the French Left has rallied together. Their goal: to thwart the far-right’s surge in the wake of the National Rally’s significant success in the European elections, a success that could be further strengthened by allying with certain Republicans.
Shortly after the dissolution announcement, caretaker MP François Ruffin from Somme representing La France insoumise (LFI), seized the moment. He urged all left-wing parties to “unite against the National Rally” and swiftly secured the domain name “2024 Popular Front.”
Said parties were easily persuaded. Monday evening, amidst the hurrahs of demonstrators gathered in Paris against the far-right, left-wing parties called for the “establishment of a new Popular Front.”
The coalition includes the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, The Greens and LFI. In a joint statement, they expressed their commitment to “back unified candidacies from the first round” and advocate for “a substantial change program.” This program is set to detail the actions to be taken “within the first 100 days” of their future government.
They also encouraged “joining processions,” scheduled for the weekend, which are organized by unions like the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT) and the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), and “demonstrating extensively.”
The leading figure of LFI, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, commended X for “a great work that foils the division Macron and Le Pen were counting on.”
An effortless union?
However, despite the swift response of the left to the elections coming up in less than three weeks, disputes persist.
Crafting a unified program that satisfies all parties and left-leaning voters in such a short timeframe is challenging. Another point of contention is Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whom the Socialist Party seeks to distance from the new coalition.
With a 13.8% share of the vote in the European elections, socialist candidate Raphaël Glucksmann knows he can assert his conditions. During Monday’s 8 PM broadcast on France 2, he categorically ruled out Jean-Luc Mélenchon as a potential prime minister. However, his suggestion of Laurent Berger, former leader of the General Confederation of Labor, did not garner unanimous support from the left.
Glucksmann seeks to capitalize on his success in the European elections where his party outperformed LFI at 9.9%, to influence the trajectory of this emerging left-wing coalition. Consequently, the New Ecological and Social People’s Union (NUPES), predominantly represented by Jean-Luc Mélenchon and LFI representatives, is now sidelined.
The sentiment is shared by Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau who advocates for the selection of a “consensus figure,” and Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel, who asserts that Mélenchon “was not part of the discussions.”
“We must let go of grudges! Otherwise, what? Endless vendettas? We must constantly seek ways to move forward,” responded the main protagonist on Monday evening on his blog.
The NUPES, who enabled left-wing parties to secure 151 MPs in the 2022 National Assembly, subsequently collapsed due to numerous divergences, notably LFI’s refusal to label Hamas as a “terrorist” organization.
Opinions diverge on substance as well. While LFI stands as a prominent advocate for the Palestinian cause, other parties are more hesitant to take such a firm stance. Conversely, Ukraine is a major topic for the Socialist Party, who advocates for supporting “Ukrainian resistance,” while Jean-Luc Mélenchon emphasizes “peace” without a “victor” or “vanquished,” highlighting NATO’s responsibility in the conflict.
A necessity against the National Rally
Despite internal divisions and lingering grudges, the French Left recognizes the paramount importance of unity. Faced with both a weakened yet still potent Macronist bloc and the escalating popularity of the National Rally, only a cohesive left-wing alliance can secure them a satisfactory number of seats in the Assembly. While achieving a relative majority remains difficult, the left aims, at the very least, to prevent the National Rally from attaining one.
Parties are keenly aware of the trap laid by the French president, who sought to catch them off guard with the suddenness of his decision, and who hopes to become the sole alternative to the far-right by stretching the limits of the famous “Republican front.”
Left-wing parties will probably unite around a common platform for the legislative elections. It is a program aimed at “divorcing” from President Macron, yet one that should garner enough consensus to persuade each left-wing party, all of whom will need to compromise.
Following the elections, a fragile consensus persists, showcasing a unified left struggling for over a decade to avoid internal conflicts. The critical question now is whether left-wing MPs will heed past lessons from the NUPES and maintain unity throughout a swift campaign while confronting the nation’s historic challenges.
