FRANCE
The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance has outlined a broad range of policy objectives should it be able to form a gov't following the upcoming legislative elections. These include the “freezing of the prices of basic necessities” , particularly in food, energy and fuel, an increase in the minimum wage from EUR1,398 net to EUR1,600 net per month, the indexation of salaries to inflation, the reinstatement of the solidarty wealth tax (ISF), and the repeal of President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform with the retirement age lowered back to 60.
- On foreign policy, the NFP committed to recognising Palestine as a nation state but called for the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas. It also voiced support for Ukraine in its war against Russian invasion. These two stances are more moderate than those of the French left historically, which has been seen as overtly anti-Israel and anti-NATO.
- The NFP is not yet in full agreement though, with the crucial question of who could act as PM should the alliance emerge with a majority or the largest group in the National Assembly still unanswered. Perennial presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon from the leftist La France Insoumise (LFI) has said he would be willing to serve. However, he is viewed as a divisive figure, with a moderate candidate more likely to win support especially if NFP is short of a majority.
Map of National Assembly Constituencies and Distribution of Seats among NFP Parties
Source: Le Figaro. Key-LFI: La France Insoumise, PCF: Communist Party of France, PS: Socialist Party, Ecologistes: Ecologists-Greens
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