A left-wing alliance, the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), has emerged as the relative majority in the recent parliamentary elections in France. This unexpected victory has disrupted the political landscape, traditionally dominated by President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition and Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National (RN). The NFP, a coalition of moderate and radical left parties, was formed out of necessity to counter the rising influence of Le Pen's anti-immigration movement.
The NFP aims to reverse Macron's policies, such as lowering the retirement age and increasing government spending on social welfare, environmental protection, and healthcare. Macron had called for early elections, hoping to rally voters against the far-right threat, but underestimated the appeal of the left-wing alliance. In a surprising turn, the NFP secured 28% of the vote in the first round, trailing the RN's 33% but ahead of Macron's centrist alliance, which garnered only 21%.
French elections are determined at the district level, leading to a runoff in many areas. In districts where Le Pen's candidates had narrow victories, the left-wing alliance and Macron's coalition joined forces, encouraging weaker candidates to withdraw. Despite the NFP's success, they are far from securing a parliamentary majority. If the moderate members of the NFP cannot form a government with Macron's centrist allies, France may face political deadlock ahead of the Olympic Games.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent figure in the NFP, has called on Macron to allow the bloc to form a government. However, internal disagreements persist. François Ruffin, a charismatic left-wing figure, has criticized Mélenchon, calling him an 'obstacle' and refusing to ally with the radical left in the National Assembly if re-elected. Macron's negative rhetoric about the left-wing alliance has also influenced voters, pushing some to support the NFP.
In a related development, Éric Ciotti announced his re-election in Nice with over 55% of the votes, defeating NFP candidate Olivier Salerno and Graig Monetti from Macron's camp. Ciotti criticized the alliance between the NFP and Macron's coalition, calling it 'the alliance of shame.' Having allied with the National Rally, Ciotti's position has caused a rift within his party, the Republicans (LR), with party executives contesting his leadership. Ciotti now awaits the number of RN-LR candidates elected to form a group in the Hemicycle.
