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Posters at May Day demonstrations: Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to become prime minister
Photo: IMAGO/Samuel Boivin / IMAGO/NurPhoto
A front is forming against the recently re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron: Six weeks before the parliamentary elections in France, the left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon has formed an electoral alliance with the Greens.
Mélenchon's party LFI (La France Insoumise) reached an agreement with the most important eco-party (Europe Ecologie-Les Verts, EELV) on Monday night.
Mélenchon is aiming for a majority in the general elections on June 12th and 19th.
He wants to become prime minister after performing surprisingly well in the first round of the French presidential election and narrowly missing out on the head of state's runoff with around 22 percent.
According to information from negotiating circles, the leading party bodies of the Greens approved an agreement under which they are entitled to 100 constituencies.
The division of the constituencies was one of the most controversial issues in the negotiations for an electoral alliance.
Final compromises were reached over the weekend, dealing with the attitude towards Europe – “disobedience”, but only on some economic and budgetary rules if necessary – and the common name – “New People's Ecological and Social Union”.
Left hope for influence in Parliament
The deal between LFI and the Greens includes lowering the retirement age to 60, raising the minimum wage and capping the prices of essential products, said LFI MEP Manon Aubry, adding that agreements with others on the left parties would follow.
Macron, who won a second mandate last month, needs a majority in parliament to push through his pro-business policies, including plans to raise the retirement age.
Early polls ahead of the June 12-19 elections suggest Macron could achieve that goal.
However, left and right-wing opposition parties are trying to forge alliances in hopes of appointing a prime minister and gaining influence in parliament.
LFI is also negotiating with the Socialists (PS).
Their candidate Anne Hidalgo only got 1.8 percent, but the party is well rooted in rural areas.
Within the PS, however, there is considerable resistance to an alliance with the left-wing populist.
ani/AFP/Reuters
