why does Jean-Luc Mélenchon want a single list of the left?

See you perhaps on Tuesday, the day after the mobilization of May 1st. May be later. The four components, LFI, PS, PCF and Greens should meet with the start of a “phase 2″ of Nupes. On the left too, it is a question of drawing lessons from the episode of pensions. Despite their virulent opposition, the left-wing parties do not impose themselves as the political outlet of the social crisis: it is rather Marine Le Pen who benefits from it.

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And then, they were divided on the strategy in the Assembly. For Jean-Luc Mélenchon, it is therefore urgent to override the reluctance of its partners to impose a single list for the Europeans of June 2024. Not easy. Europe has divided the left for a long time, between the federalism of the Greens, the sovereignism of the rebels and the socialists who no longer know where they stand. But the Insoumis point out that after all, in Parliament, French left-wing MEPs most often vote together.

Hide an announced failure

And for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a single list would be used to prepare the victory of the left in the presidential election. According to him, if the Nupes wins pole position in the Europeans, that “will indicate where the country wants to go” in 2027. An analysis hitherto always denied. For 25 years, the exact opposite has happened! Each time, the list at the top of the Europeans loses the presidential election that follows. This was the case of the PS in the lead in 1999 and 2004 and beaten in the presidential elections of 2002 and 2007; from the right in the lead in 2009 and defeated in 2012; and the FN in the lead in 2014 and 2019 and beaten in the following two Élysian elections… In short, the result of the Europeans has never had any impact on a presidential election.

So why does Jean-Luc Mélenchon want a single list from the left? To consolidate its weakened leadership and because the Europeans are the worst polls for the Insoumis: only 6% four years ago. It is therefore necessary to hide an announced failure. Especially since it is the favorite election of the Greens, 14% for Jadot in 2019. Since the first European election 45 years ago, environmentalists have always competed under their own colors, a strategy most often crowned of success. On the left, we know that unity is a fight. It is sometimes also a fool’s market.