"Hundreds of leftwing voters braved a rainstorm to gather chanting: Unity! Unity! They were celebrating the 90th anniversary of France's Popular Front, a leftwing alliance that was formed in the 1930s amid fears that the far right could take power. But their concerns were more immediate. A year before the 2027 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen's far-right the National Rally (RN) already the biggest single opposition party in parliament is high in the polls. The party is closer to power than it has ever been before, and the business community that once shunned it is now openly meeting with senior party figures."
"Voters on the left want unity so let's cut the bullshit and build it, said Danielle Simonnet, a Paris MP for the leftwing party L'Apres, who said divisions would allow the far right to cement its gains. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, cannot constitutionally run again for a third consecutive term next spring, leaving the presidential race more open than it has been for a decade. But an unprecedented and bewilderingly high number of figures from across the political spectrum about 30 have expressed an interest in running, almost all of them focused on attempting to hold back the far right."
"The political debate is more about tactics, polling and which personalities may have the charisma to face off against Le Pen or her protege Jordan Bardella, than deep policy issues. Members of the left at a gathering in Paris on Tuesday. Some politicians are calling for the left to work together to select a candidate, but big names are coming forward in bigger numbers. The leftwing parties who gathered in Paris this week including the Socialist party leadership, the Greens and several smaller groups vowed to press on with a leftwing primary race for a united candidate in October, seeking to reproduce the New Popular Front, the leftwing alliance that grouped together"
Hundreds of leftwing voters gathered in a Paris meeting hall during heavy rain to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Popular Front, a 1930s leftwing alliance formed amid fears of far-right rule. The rally reflects immediate concerns about Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, which is polling strongly and is the largest opposition party in parliament. Business leaders who previously avoided the party are now meeting senior National Rally figures. Left voters argue that divisions would help the far right consolidate gains. With Emmanuel Macron unable to run again, many political figures are considering candidacies, and debate centers on tactics, polling, and candidate charisma rather than policy. Leftwing parties plan a primary in October to select a united candidate and recreate a New Popular Front.
#french-politics #far-right-national-rally #left-wing-unity #2027-presidential-election #popular-front
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