The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) in France, a coalition hastily formed after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap Parliamentary election, seems poised to achieve a surprising victory against the far-right and the ruling centrists. If early projections hold, Macron will need to appoint a prime minister from this bloc, although the NFP has not yet named its candidate. Here are some prominent figures within the alliance:
Jean-Luc Mélenchon – Hard Left France Unbowed Party
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, 72, is a veteran of French left-wing politics and a former minister during his time in the Socialist Party. Mélenchon has run for president in 2012, 2017, and 2022, improving his standing each time and finishing third in 2022 behind Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. Known for his fiery rhetoric and divisive tax-and-spend policies, Mélenchon is a polarising figure whose controversial foreign policy positions, especially on Gaza, have drawn both fervent supporters and harsh critics. He denies accusations of anti semitism.
Marine Tondelier – Leader of the Greens
Marine Tondelier, 37, hails from Henin-Beaumont, a northern town known as a stronghold of the far-right National Rally (RN) and its leader, Marine Le Pen. An outspoken opponent of the RN, Tondelier was elected to the municipal council in 2014 and documented her experiences under an RN mayor in her 2017 book “News from the Front”. She was elected to a regional council in 2021 and became the leader of the Greens in 2022.
Raphaël Glucksmann – Socialist Party
Raphaël Glucksmann, 44, led the Socialist list in the European elections, securing nearly 14 per cent of the vote, just behind Macron’s Together group. This was a significant comeback for a party that had previously fallen out of favour. Glucksmann, who has a background in journalism and as an adviser to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, advocates strong European support for Ukraine against Russia.
Laurent Berger – Former CFDT Trade Union Leader
Laurent Berger, 55, the former head of the moderate CFDT trade union, is known for his strong Opposition to the RN. Although he has expressed no desire to be prime minister, some on the left see him as a unifying figure and a potential alternative to Mélenchon.
This emerging coalition, if successful, could bring significant changes to France’s political landscape, challenging both the far right and the centrist establishment.
