The Green Party in France is urging parties in Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s coalition to commit to withdrawing from the second round of legislative races to prevent far-right candidates from winning. The party’s national secretary, Marine Tondelier, emphasized the need for clear commitments in light of the upcoming snap legislative elections where the National Rally is expected to finish with the most votes followed by the New Popular Front. Tondelier stated that her party would support a “Republican” candidate over a National Rally contender in the second round to block the far-right from gaining power. She highlighted the importance of all constituencies in these elections and expressed a willingness to withdraw their candidate if necessary to prevent the National Rally from winning.
The potential scenario of multiple candidates making it to the second vote on 7 July has raised concerns about the far-right gaining power. Macron’s coalition, which came second in the recent European elections after the far right, is now facing the prospect of finishing in third place in the upcoming legislative elections. The coalition has positioned itself as a ‘third way’ that can block both the extreme right and left in the second round. Macron has emphasized the dangers of the programs of both extremes leading to civil war and highlighted the need for a centrist approach to prevent such outcomes. Tondelier has pointed out the differences between the far-right National Rally and the left-wing coalition parties, urging a united front to stop the far right from taking power.
An editorial published in Le Monde and signed by over 220 politicians and members of civil society called for democratic forces to unite and prevent the far right from winning in the upcoming elections. The signatories expressed concerns about the catastrophic impact of the extreme right coming into power and stressed the need for collective action to avert such a scenario. However, there are divisions within the coalition, with a government minister specifying that she would not support a candidate from the leftist party La France Insoumise, which is part of the left-wing coalition. The minister highlighted the tensions within society fueled by the far right and far left and emphasized the importance of the useful vote from the first round to block extreme ideologies and support candidates who can prevent their rise to power.
The call for unity among democratic forces to prevent the far right from winning has become a central theme in the lead-up to the snap legislative elections in France. The Greens’ push for commitments from parties in Macron’s coalition to withdraw from the second round to block the National Rally reflects the growing concerns about the rise of far-right ideologies in the country. Macron’s coalition’s positioning as a ‘third way’ to block extreme ideologies and prevent civil unrest has been met with both support and skepticism within the political landscape. The upcoming elections will be crucial in determining the future direction of French politics and the balance of power between centrist, left-wing, and far-right parties.
The debate over the best strategy to prevent the far right from gaining power in France has intensified in recent weeks, with various parties and politicians proposing different approaches. The Green Party’s call for a united front to block the National Rally in the second round of legislative elections has sparked discussions about the need for a cohesive strategy among democratic forces. As the electoral landscape shifts and parties position themselves to counter the rise of extreme ideologies, the upcoming elections will test the ability of different factions to work together towards a common goal of preventing the far right from gaining power. The outcome of these elections will have far-reaching implications for the future of French politics and the democratic values at the heart of the country’s political system.
