PEOPLE of France have voted against the far-right in the parliamentary elections. Contrary to many opinion polls, the National Rally of Le Pen could win only 143 seats and stood third. The newly formed Left coalition, New Popular Front achieved a victory by emerging as the largest bloc with182 seats, while President Macron’s group Ensemble won 163 seats. As a result of this fractured mandate, no single party or Front secured an outright majority. For a majority, one needs to win 289 in the 577-seat National Assembly. The New Popular Front fell short of majority by over 100 seats. These elections were called by President Macron, after his Party received a setback in the elections to the European Union parliament held in June.
Fearing the growth of far-right, immediately after the elections to the EU parliament, people of France marched in huge numbers across the country. They clearly expressed their opposition to the divisive and reactionary politics of the far-right. Many parties on the Left correctly assessed the peoples’ mood and formed a coalition – the New Popular Front. This Front comprised France Unbowed of Jean Luc Melenchon, the Socialist Party, the Greens and the Communist Party of France. They had announced their 150-point agenda for action if voted to power. Though this Front was formed only a few days before the elections, they put up a strong performance and emerged as a force that could halt the far-right.
In the first phase, Le Pen’s party emerged as a front runner after securing 33.1 per cent of the polled votes. They were followed by the New Popular Front, with 28 per cent and Macron’s group, which got 21 per cent. As no Front was able to win an outright majority, a second round was held, where only those who secured more than 12.5 per cent of the votes were allowed to contest. This narrowed the field of candidates to only three candidates from the above three Fronts.
People’s antipathy towards the far-right made all the opposing parties to work out tactics for their defeat. Accordingly, more than 200 candidates who stood third in the first round, withdrew their candidatures. The New Popular Front immediately withdrew its candidates. However, all the candidates from Macron’s group did not reciprocate this gesture. Many of them refused to withdraw as they equated Melenchon’s Left-wing France Unbowed with Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
In spite of such hurdles, results show that the far-right is pushed to the third position and once again prevented by the people from assuming the seat of power. People’s antipathy towards the policies of the far-right, together with the availability of trustworthy options to defeat these forces contributed a lot to their defeat.
Macron, commanding a majority in the National Assembly, had implemented austerity measures, dictated by neoliberal policies. The government refused to tax the wealthy, but imposed all sorts of taxes on the working people. Retirement age of workers was increased. Pension reforms were carried out. Workers and farmers protested against these moves and organised huge demonstrations and sustained struggles. The months long struggle of the workers and the ‘Yellow Vests’ movement of the farmers and people were two big reflections of popular anger against Macron’s government.
The far-right fed on this discontent generated by the government’s policies. They blamed the influx of migrants for all these problems. They injected racial and religious hatred among the people and divided the society. The failure of all the traditional establishment parties like the Conservatives and Socialists, together with the weaknesses of the Communist party and environmental groups like the Greens, aided the growth of the far-right. Le Pen or her party never opposed pension reforms or increase in retirement age. Many big corporates representing sections of the ruling classes openly supported Le Pen and her party. They wanted to ensure that the Left does not benefit from people’s discontent at any cost.
Le Pen’s adherence to neoliberal philosophy, combined with her divisive politics made people apprehensive. They realised that once elected to power, such a party would not solve any of their basic issues, but would create new problems by breaking the social fabric. People did not forget the horrors of fascism and Nazism and were not ready for an encore.
The New Popular Front, won people’s acceptance due to their economic agenda and also their willingness to confront the growth of far-right. They promised restoration of certain social welfare measures, reversal of certain neoliberal policies, particularly ‘austerity’ measures. They promised to decrease the retirement age, undo pension reforms and tax the wealthy.
The elections in France shows how divided the society is. Though Le Pen’s National Rally was not able to win a majority, it was able to nearly double its numbers in the Assembly. This is a chilling reminder of how deep the far-right ideology has penetrated into society.
These divisions will now play in the formation of the new government too. Macron is not ready to forego his hold on governmental power, even though his gamble in calling snap elections has failed. He might not have foreseen the formation of a Left coalition and its strong electoral performance. For him, the far-right is not a big threat as many of his policies have led to the normalisation of the far-right ideology. French ruling classes too prefer an alliance between the Conservative right and the far-right to prevent the Left from assuming power. Such a coalition would enable them to continue with neoliberal policies.
In the New Popular Front, there is no unanimity on how to share power. The Socialist Party and the Greens are not ready to accept Melenchon as the leader, though his party won the highest seats in the Front. There exist some serious differences on economic policies and Melenchon is considered to be ‘extreme Left’ and an anti-capitalist. There are attempts to utilise these differences and wean them away to form a centre-left government.
All such attempts are a disrespect to the people’s mandate. People have voted both against Macron and Le Pen. They have voted against the far-right and also neoliberal economic policies. Any government formed, should respect the peoples’ verdict by considering this reality. Only then would they be able to meet people’s aspirations. Any other step, would be disastrous and only lead to further strengthening of the far-right. The portent threat of far-right is not completely warded off, it is only halted for now.
(July 10, 2024)
