A week ago, on the evening of the Europeans, President Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly. A political shock, an earthquake even, with multiple aftershocks. The past week was punctuated by exclusions in the parties and alliances that were formed: new Popular Front on the left, alliance of the national camp on the right between the RN and a tiny part of the LR, led by Eric Ciotti.
This is unheard of in the recent history of the Fifth Republic. It only took a few days for political parties to form alliances on the left and right, with a view to the legislative elections. And we can legitimately be surprised to see politicians who were still arguing, ten days ago, on television sets patting each other on the back today. But the parties had no choice, they had to move very quickly since they have until Sunday to submit their applications to the prefecture in each constituency. Twenty days to organize legislative elections is a challenge.
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An unnatural alliance on the left?
On the left, the socialists and the rebels had to reconcile in no time. Particularly on the subject of Gaza, the paroxysm of their differences in recent months, one disagreement too many, one might have thought. But obviously, no. The socialists have never supported the rebels not immediately qualifying Hamas as a “terrorist movement”. But the different left-wing parties today retain what unites them: the two-state solution in particular, the call for a ceasefire or even their opposition to colonization. Except that the procrastination of the Insoumis on the subject of Hamas will leave its mark. For many socialist voters in particular, it is unthinkable today to vote for the Insoumis, over whom there is a suspicion of anti-Semitism.
Eric Ciotti and Jordan Bardella, allies in 70 constituencies
Eric Ciotti and Jordan Bardella, for their part, announced an alliance in 70 constituencies. But do they have much in common when we move away from immigration and security issues?
On all other issues, the new allies have their work cut out for them if they want to reach a common platform before the first round of legislative elections. Economically first of all, everything seems to oppose the liberal Eric Ciotti of Marine Le Pen who is now wearing a very social outfit.
By affirming at the start of the week that the RN would not return to pension reform if it arrived at Matignon, Jordan Bardella may have taken a first step towards his former opponent. A few months ago, Eric Ciotti pushed to push back the retirement age beyond 63, when Marine Le Pen was still advocating a return to retirement at 60 in 2022. Many differences also on the societal level, on foreign policy: the RN is considering leaving NATO, not the Republicans. Agreeing on constituencies is one thing, building an ideological alliance is another.
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