In a remarkable turn of events Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose unexpectedly good showing in the first round of the French Presidential elections led to the formation of the leftist coalition NUPES (New Popular Ecological and Social Union), has led the new party to a result that looks like it will deny a parliamentary majority to President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron has pushed a right wing agenda that included attacks on French workers, seniors, immigrants, marginalized groups and others. The Macron government responded with extreme violence to the Yellow Vest revolts of 2018-2019.
After the runoff election between Macron and far right candidate Marine Le Pen it seemed that that was the struggle within France. NUPES, however, which has united Greens, Socialists, Communists and La France Insoumise, has led to a reassertion of the French left politically.
While Macron's centrist party will still take the most seats, the fact that NUPES fared so well is a sign that the left in France is far from dead and that the far right is not the only serious opponent to Macron's neo-liberal agenda.
Now Macron will be unable to unilaterally push a legislative agenda, which is a major victory for the left. This is the first left wing electoral coalition in France since 1997.
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