The day after the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, which Emmanuel Macron wanted as a “political truce”, Lucie Castets is kicking the anthill again in the race for Matignon. Purchasing power, ecology, health: the candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP) for the post of Prime Minister listed this Monday, August 12, her “five major priorities” if she took the head of the government. All this, in a letter to the deputies and senators of the “republican groups”, to whom she promised a “regain of place” in the face of the executive.
“Voters expressed a very strong expectation of change” during the July legislative elections, which “placed the New Popular Front in the lead” but left the National Assembly “fragmented and without a majority”, writes Lucie Castets in this letter, co-signed by the seven leaders of the left-wing parliamentary groups.
While they claim power, these leaders nevertheless intend to “take into account all the implications of this election”, starting with the need to “convince beyond the ranks of the NFP to build parliamentary majorities”. They therefore propose a “change of practice” within Parliament, to “develop the texts in advance”, better “distribute responsibilities” during debates and more “share the agenda” with the executive.
“In-depth discussions with Republican parliamentary groups”
As a pledge of this “regained space given to parliamentary work”, the left assures that a Castets government would conduct “upon its nomination” “in-depth discussions with the Republican parliamentary groups” – a formulation which a priori excludes the National Rally. This work, which would also involve unions, local elected officials and “organized civil society”, would focus both on “the budget for 2025” and on “a government work program for the months to come”.
A plan based on “five major priorities”, the first of which are “purchasing power and social justice”, including the increase in the minimum wage and the repeal of the pension reform. The left also wants to emphasize “ecological change”, education, “public health services” and “fair taxation” focused on “the wealthiest households, multinationals” as well as “tax fraud and evasion”.
The NFP also plans to resume certain issues “interrupted by the dissolution”, in particular “end of life, child protection, single-parent families, the establishment of a minimum number of caregivers per hospitalized patient or sexual violence in the cultural environment”.