Leftist NFP Set Out Econ Plans, Still No Agreement On PM Candidate

The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance is setting out its plans for the economy, including how much said plans will cost and how revenue will be raised, at a presser in Paris. Speaking to the centre-right Le Figaro on 20 June, Jean-Luc Melenchon from the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI), which sits in the NFP, claimed that "According to our party's calculations, within five years, there will be a total of 200 billion euros in public spending and 230 billion in revenue for the State. How ? By a boost to [economic] activity."

• Le Monde reports comments from Socialst Party (PS) Senator Alexandre Ouizille, who listed the following as key aims of the NFP should it form the next gov't: "repeal of the pension reform and repeal of the unemployment insurance reform” ; “increase in the minimum wage to €1,600, [i.e.] an increase of 14%” , and “an increase in [salaries] of 10%” for civil servants. “We will increase housing aid by 10%” [...] The cost of these measures is 25 billion euros for the year 2024” continued the senator. “We [will] immediately [reintroduce] an ISF [wealth tax] with a climate component of 15 billion euros,” he continued."
• With the NFP polling in second place behind the right-wing National Rally, the alliance has yet to settle on a PM candidate. Melenchon is the most well-known figure in the group, but is a divisive figure. Some centre-left PS deputies and candidates have said they would not back a Melenchon premiership.