IT IS with trepidation that the French left is waiting for the outcome of the second round of the legislative elections next Sunday, June 19.

Nupes, the new left coalition which stands for Nouvelle Union Populaire Ecologique et Sociale (New Social and Ecological People’s Union) is challenging President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc Ensemble! (Together). 

Following his 22 per cent score in April’s presidential contest, Jean-Luc Melenchon’s score rose in this first round of the legislatives, giving him a slight lead of 26.6 per cent over Macron’s 25.20 per cent.

Nupes brings together Melenchon’s La France Insoumise (LFI), the French Communist Party (PCF), the Socialist Party (PS) and the EELV candidates, or Europe Ecologies Les Verts, who could in many constituencies dispute power with Macron’s La Republique En Marche (laREM) and its allies. 

Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) was well behind the two frontrunners in the polls, but ahead of the more mainstream grouping on the right. But success for Nupes depends on one condition: massive participation.

Sunday June 12 was the first round of the Legislatives, or parliamentary elections, a “third round” of the presidential election. 

Melenchon is hoping that on the 19th, the final round of the Legislatives will hand him and his allies a majority in parliament — allowing him to become prime minister to defy the neoliberal course set by Macron. 

Out of 50 candidates presented by the PCF in the first round, 32 will campaign in the second round.

The alliance’s programme, L’Avenir en Commun (The Future in Common), promises a radical transformation of the French economy and ambitious proposals include:

• An increase in the minimum wage to €1,400 net
• A return to retirement at age 60
• A price freeze on basic necessities
• Ecological planning
• An autonomy allowance for young people

Already energy company price rises are capped at 4 per cent and French energy trade unions celebrated in 2021 the 75th anniversary of the nationalisation of electricity and gas services.

If elected Nupes will also vote on the country’s membership of Nato. On the EU, if rules present as extreme “blocks” on action Nupes will negotiate changes and if necessary not comply with the rule.

Sanctioned by a historically low-score neoliberal President Macron is building an anti-Nupes front, concerned that he may have to work in a government with a left prime minister.

Next Sunday we will know if France will take a new political direction with Jean-Luc Melenchon as prime minister, which could be a turning point in European elections. 

However our media has chosen to give the successes of the left in the French Legislatives as little coverage as possible. 

Is it because our media doesn’t wish British working people to know of alternative ways to govern a country?