DARK SECRETS: 10 - The Real Truth

Analysis-French left pulls off election gamble, but unity going forward not so easy

France's new left-wing bloc is set to become the largest opposition force in parliament, but staying united will present an early test as President Emmanuel Macron's majority seeks allies on the moderate left to push through his reform agenda.

Reuters · Jun 19, 2022

French ex-chambermaid vows to represent ‘invisible’ workers if elected MP

Rachel Keke, a former hotel cleaner who led the fight for better working conditions in a major Paris hotel chain in 2021, is through to the second round of France’s parliamentary elections. If she wins her seat on Sunday, she'll be one of few working-class MPs, and she counts on…

Radio France Internationale · Jun 17, 2022

Mélenchon's far-left party: five years of opposition at the National Assembly

Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left France Unbowed (La France Insoumise or LFI) party, which came in third in the first round of the 2022 presidential election, has had 17 MPs in the National Assembly since the 2017 legislative elections. They quickly gained notice not only for their ability to create a buzz,…

France 24 · Jun 4, 2022

Will crawling into bed with France's hard left save or sink the Socialists?

France's long-established Socialist Party has fallen into line behind the hard-left France Unbowed, joining a left-wing alliance aimed at depriving President Emmanuel Macron of a majority in parliament in next month’s elections. Some party heavyweights see it as the final nail in the coffin of the fractured Socialists; others feel…

Radio France Internationale · May 5, 2022

French left agrees rare coalition deal to take on Macron

France's Socialist Party and the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) agreed in principle on Wednesday to run together in June parliamentary elections and try to deprive newly re-elected President Emmanuel Macron of a majority.

Reuters · May 4, 2022

France's Socialist Party joins far-left alliance ahead of key elections

France's Socialist Party and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party have reached an "in principle" agreement to form an alliance for legislative elections in June.

Radio France Internationale · May 4, 2022

French left 'a few steps' from broad alliance to counter Macron in parliamentary polls

France's left-of-centre parties were on Tuesday close to a broad alliance for June parliamentary polls, hoping that a united front can force President Emmanuel Macron to share power with the left during his second term in office.

France 24 · May 3, 2022

Hard left strikes deal with French Greens ahead of legislative elections

France Unbowed (LFI), the movement of far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has struck a deal with France's green EELV party, as the left seeks to form a joint front against President Emmanuel Macron in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Radio France Internationale · May 2, 2022

French Greens, leftist Mélenchon form alliance ahead of parliamentary elections

Momentum was building on Monday behind attempts by French left-wing parties to form a united front against President Emmanuel Macron in next month's parliamentary elections, after radical Jean-Luc Mélenchon clinched a deal with the Greens.

France 24 · May 2, 2022

French greens, far-left leader Melenchon strike deal ahead of legislative election

LFI, the movement of far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, struck a deal with France's green EELV party, politicians from both sides said on Monday, as the left seeks to form a joint front against President Emmanuel Macron in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Reuters · May 2, 2022