Leftist Alliance Set To Unveil Policy Plans In Presser

The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) is set to present its policy objectives if it forms the next gov't in a press conference taking place around 1130CET (0530ET, 1030BST). The NFP was raised as a prospect in very short order after President Emmanuel Macron announced the snap elections on 9 June, but was confirmed as an electoral alliance in a statement on 13 June. It is formed by four parties that formed the 'NUPES' alliance in the 2022 elections: the extreme-left Communist Party, the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI), the green Ecologists, and the centre-left Socialist Party (PS), and is expanded by additions from the 'miscellaneous left' group of small leftist parties.

• Le Monde reportsthat some of the 150 policy proposals from NFP include: a repeal of Macron's unemployment insurance reform, a repeal of the hugely-controverisal pension reform that raised the retirement age to 64, the 'unwavering support' for Ukraine's resistance but no French troops on the ground, and the indexation of salaries and retirement pensions, to inflation.
• Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire called the NFP's aims 'complete madness', adding that if they form the next gov't it risks economic collapse, mass unemployment and France leaving the EU.
• The latest opinion poll from Elabe(11-12 June) did not prompt for the NFP as an alliance, instead giving support for NUPES and the miscellaneous left separately. Combined, their support totals 33%, ahead of the far-right Rassembelement National (National Rally, RN) on 31%.