By winning more than 130 seats in the legislative elections, the New People’s Ecological and Social Union (NUPES) has achieved an unprecedented tour de force in contemporary French politics.
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Since 2002, when the general election began to follow the presidential election systematically, the French have always given an absolute majority to the party of the head of state after his victory. For several observers, this second passage to the polls was thus only a formality after the victory of Emmanuel Macron in April.
The unsuspected alliance of left-wing parties, notably La France insoumise, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and Europe Écologie Les Verts, has however come to upset the political spectrum of the country.
The results are unprecedented: several pillars of the presidential coalition were overthrown by the NUPES in what many call a “political earthquake”.
The President of the National Assembly and several ministers also figure among them.
President Macron’s forces have not only lost their absolute majority, they will also have to make real compromises to attract the dozens of deputies needed to achieve it. In this new configuration, the left has established itself as the real opposition.
There is reason to be surprised at this conclusion, especially when one remembers that the parties on the left were engaged in a close and sometimes vitriolic struggle, barely a few weeks earlier to have their candidate elected to head the State.
Quick genesis of NUPES
After disappointing results in the presidential election, where ultimately the center and the extreme right clashed in the second round, an electric shock was needed among the progressive forces who had to avoid at all costs losing face again, this time ci in the renewal of the National Assembly.
It is in this context that the head of La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, undertook to rally his adversaries to a common cause. To everyone’s surprise, the negotiations came to fruition one by one, with common ground being reached after thorny internal debates. For parties with a long history (and having already tasted power in the case of the Socialist Party), the pill was hard to swallow, but their weak position demanded a turnaround.
Quebec parallels
As an environmentalist, sovereignist or sympathizer of social causes, there is reason to be depressed by the times that are running in Quebec.
Damning election forecasts. Feeling of a result decided in advance. Existence of pathways between certain parties. It is difficult not to forge links with the political news on our side of the Atlantic.
In all likelihood, Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois, who are currently championing these issues, will have to fight to even maintain their seats on October 3.
Periodically, approaches to rapprochement take place between the two groups, but, until now, they have always failed. The disagreements between the two formations are well known.
We suspect that the issues related to secularism or multiculturalism make any convergence difficult for the members of certain PQ or solidarity hard cores.
It must nevertheless be noted that equally important frictions, for example on the positioning of France in Europe, did not prevent the design of the NUPES.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois at an event organized to mark the 100e René Lévesque’s birthday, June 13
In view of the common causes defended in the last four years, it must be recognized that many bring together the parties of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois: ecological transition, strengthening of the social fabric, democratic reforms, etc. The two chefs who recently praised the legacy of René Lévesque should take inspiration from it.
The politician most appreciated by Quebecers managed to achieve his objectives not only by idealism, but also by knowing how to put water in his wine. The grouping together of the Mouvement Souveraineté-Association, the Ralliement national and the Rassemblement pour l’indépendance nationale under a platform of compromise is the most evocative illustration of this. Today, the French example is paving the way for a similar approach.
The climate emergency, the housing crisis and the limits imposed on a Quebec in the Canadian federation amply demand such a reinvention.