'A poisoned chalice': French left loses momentum after surprise election win

MARSEILLE, France (CN) — The left-wing New Popular Front coalition threw France a curveball when it won the country’s snap elections. But experts argue that no one was more surprised than the coalition itself, and its lack of preparation is showing.

On Thursday, the NFP took a blow when Yaël Braun-Pivet, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition, was reelected as president of the National Assembly, the country’s lower chamber of parliament. Hers is the fourth-highest ranking position in France’s government; the win bodes well for Macron as its new composition takes shape.

Braun-Pivet received the support of Macron’s centrist allies and of some conservative lawmakers seeking to prevent her leftist colleague from getting the job. Braun-Pivet won 220 votes, while communist lawmaker André Chassaigne, the NFP’s candidate, got 207.

This twist of the knife enraged NFP members and voters, who argue that since the coalition won the most votes, Macron should work with them to form the new government. But disagreements within the group are taking center stage: The Front has been unable to agree on a candidate for prime minister and members are publicly condemning the chaos.

“It’s like a poisoned chalice [was handed] to them,” Virginie Martin, political scientist and researcher at Kedge Business School, told Courthouse News. “Frankly, it’s quite astonishing — I don’t know how they’re going to convert to government responsibility.”

When Macron called for snap elections on June 9, four left-wing parties — the Socialists, Greens, Communists and hard-left France Unbowed — rapidly united to form the New Popular Front and put forth a mandate. Their speed was impressive, especially because the parties’ differences, both politically and personally, are substantial and public. The coalition’s ability to come together to block the far right surprised pundits, and the move clearly paid off.

But the aftermath tells another story.

The coalition still doesn’t have a clear leader. On Wednesday, Marine Tondelier — the national secretary of the Greens — said on television, “I’m angry, I’m disgusted, I’m fed up, I’m tired … . And I’m sorry for the spectacle that we’re giving to French men and women,” referring to the coalition’s inability to agree on a candidate.

As the NFP loses momentum, and the prospect of a Macron-leaning government looks increasingly likely, people are taking to the streets to advocate for an NFP-led parliament. Although the coalition didn’t win an absolute majority, it did come out on top.

On Thursday, the CGT — France’s largest workers union and de facto political activist group — called for demonstrations across the country, rallying for Macron to respect democracy, accept the NFP’s win and implement its mandate immediately by appointing a prime minister from their ranks.

Macron accepted current Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation Tuesday but asked him to stay on in a caretaker role through the Paris Olympics, which start July 26.

Speaking from England, where he was attending a summit of leaders from Europe, Macron would not comment on the political situation and refused to say when he might name a new prime minister.

“I will not answer that question,” he said.

There is no set timeline for Macron to appoint a new prime minister.

In Marseille, “Bella Ciao,” a classic Italian anti-fascist resistance song, blasted in front of the police precinct in the center of town. Despite the show of solidarity among left-wing voters, some still have doubts over the long-term durability of the alliance.

“I voted for them, but I don’t know if they’ll be able to achieve what we need to achieve,” Nadine, who preferred to go by her first name, told Courthouse News. “They’re never in agreement.”

Annick Lepage, a retired woman sitting on the sidelines of the rally, said the government must respect the program — not just for her, but for her grandchildren.

“It’s imperative because I don’t want to have a shit retirement, and I have grandkids. My life is done, but I don’t want to die in misery,” she told Courthouse News. “It’s a common mandate and that’s what we need to put into place.”

The NFP’s program presents ambitious social reforms, including scrapping the controversial pension reform law that sparked nationwide protests in 2023; increasing minimum wage; and bolstering welfare benefits. But experts argue the program was drafted by a coalition that didn’t see its win as a viable possibility.

“We know very well that the program was made when they thought they wouldn’t come to power,” Gérard Grunberg, emeritus research director at the National Center for Scientific Research and director at Telos, told Courthouse News. “I think the Popular Front has no future as a force capable of governing.”

The disagreements run deep. Parties have varying views on the most pressing issues facing the government, from energy to foreign policy and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The Socialist and France Unbowed leaders don’t hide their distaste for each other. But Martin thinks they might pull through, especially as the next presidential election looms in three years.

“It will last because they want power,” she said. “They each have their card for 2027.”

Nathalie Malhon was selling newspapers at the CGT protest on Thursday. The front page read, “No matter who the government is, change will only come when workers demand it.”

She said France is in a catastrophic situation, with the extreme left almost as bad as the extreme right, and the real problem is rooted in capitalism. Nina Simone’s “Ain’t Got No / I Got Life” played in the background as she reflected on the current political landscape.

“The left isn’t united right now at all, and the problem is that they’re losing the essential view, which is for the working class,” she told Courthouse News. “The left, like others, wants to manage the affairs of the bourgeoisie.”

Martin described how the deteriorating image of the left-wing alliance could play in Macron’s favor.

“I think they’ve never done such a service to Macron,” Martin said. “When we see all of this folklore and inconsistency, Macron — who is hated by everyone — could end up becoming the solution, paradoxically.”

Grunberg recognizes that a centrist government is the best case scenario for Macron.

“Otherwise, we’ll make him bear the responsibility for this disastrous situation,” he said. “And if it continues like this for a long time, people could simply ask for a new presidential election, and so Macron resigns. That said, personally, I am not sure that Macron’s resignation would change the legislative panorama much.”

Macron, who is often unfavorably compared to King Louis XVI, has said he would not resign.

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