New Popular Front

Before the 2022 French legislative election, several parties of the French Left founded the New Ecological and Social People's Union (NUPES) electoral alliance to jointly contest the election against National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and the main representative of far-right politics in France, and En Marche, the political party of the incumbent French president Emmanuel Macron.{{cite news|last=Stangler|first=Cole|date=13 May 2022|title=The left has finally got its act together – in France. Watch out, Macron and Le Pen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/13/france-left-macron-le-pen-jean-luc-melenchon|access-date=7 June 2022|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028150219/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/13/france-left-macron-le-pen-jean-luc-melenchon|archive-date=28 October 2023}} Although collectively able to form the leading opposition bloc, the alliance failed to agree to form a singular parliamentary grouping. Regardless, this denied Macron a majority in the French Parliament.{{cite web|last=Bernard|first=Mathias|title=Parliamentary elections shock France's political order to its core|url=http://theconversation.com/parliamentary-elections-shock-frances-political-order-to-its-core-185413|access-date=23 December 2022|website=The Conversation|date=20 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724141038/https://theconversation.com/parliamentary-elections-shock-frances-political-order-to-its-core-185413|archive-date=24 July 2024}} Amid divisions, NUPES was dissolved in June 2023.{{cite magazine|last=Stetler|first=Harrison|date=26 June 2024|title=France's New Popular Front Can Stop the Far Right|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/06/france-nouveau-front-populaire-clemence-guette|access-date=15 July 2024|magazine=Jacobin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823152257/https://jacobin.com/2024/06/france-nouveau-front-populaire-clemence-guette|archive-date=23 August 2024}}

File:Logo FrontPopulaire 2024.svg

On 9 June, the 2024 European Parliament election in France took place, with exit polls indicating that the National Rally had received twice as many votes as Renaissance, Macron's party, in what was described as a crushing defeat for the incumbent president.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/france-election-quatennens-e4c9590720516939ead2cf8031686d78|title=Candidates race to register for French election but one convicted of spousal assault withdraws|work=Associated Press|access-date=19 June 2024|date=16 June 2024|quote=The uneasy coalition of parties from the far-left to the center-left is campaigning together against the prospect that the two-round June 30 and July 7 election could produce France's first far-right government since the Nazi occupation.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619205611/https://apnews.com/article/france-election-quatennens-e4c9590720516939ead2cf8031686d78|archive-date=19 June 2024}} The French left's main leaders warned that the far right was "at the door of power".{{cite news|last1=Garriga|first1=Nicolas|last2=Surk|first2=Barbara|date=14 June 2024|title=France's leftist alliance leaders vow to 'extinguish the flame' of far right in upcoming elections|url=https://apnews.com/article/france-snap-election-left-coalition-popular-front-7a729edf607c147c4689022b70ad63cb|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711002825/https://apnews.com/article/france-snap-election-left-coalition-popular-front-7a729edf607c147c4689022b70ad63cb|archive-date=11 July 2024}} NUPES did not take part under one ballot but under many, and the Socialist Party returned as the largest part of the French left, ahead of La France Insoumise;{{cite news|last=Goury-Laffont|first=Victor|date=17 June 2024|title=Forget the far right. It's the left that may squeeze Macron|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/left-wing-alliance-new-popular-front-greens-socialists-communists-jean-luc-melenchon-france-unbowed-lfi-france-emmanuel-macron/|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730210521/https://www.politico.eu/article/left-wing-alliance-new-popular-front-greens-socialists-communists-jean-luc-melenchon-france-unbowed-lfi-france-emmanuel-macron/|archive-date=30 July 2024}} the Socialist Party rose from 6 to 14 percent, while La France Insoumise scored 10 percent.{{cite magazine|last=Stetler|first=Harrison|date=15 June 2024|title=France's New Popular Front Has a Plan to Govern|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/06/france-popular-front-macron-le-pen|access-date=6 July 2024|magazine=Jacobin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816171133/https://jacobin.com/2024/06/france-popular-front-macron-le-pen|archive-date=16 August 2024}} Responding to his underperformance and tapping into the divided French left,{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Julian|date=4 July 2024|title=The divided French left will not repeat past victories|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6ff41a03-66ee-4c0c-8321-62bd640a63a9|access-date=7 July 2024|work=Financial Times}} Macron dissolved the parliament to call for snap elections, with the first round scheduled for 30 June and a second for 7 July.{{cite news|last=Tidey|first=Alice|date=9 June 2024|title=French President Macron dissolves parliament, calls snap elections|url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/06/09/french-president-emmanuel-macron-announces-anticipated-elections-after-stinging-eu-electio|access-date=9 June 2024|work=Euronews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614182525/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/06/10/french-president-emmanuel-macron-announces-anticipated-elections-after-stinging-eu-electio|archive-date=14 June 2024}}

File:Poster close-up Front populaire 2024 with a football game plan metaphor, on a mooring bollard, Le Havre, 2024.jpg in favor of the New Popular Front, claiming it is "the right tactic to go against the far right".]]

After the announcement of fresh elections, some called to renew NUPES and form a new left-wing alliance, amid the 2024 French protests against the National Rally,{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Ben|date=16 June 2024|title=France's new leftwing bloc begins to crack ahead of snap elections|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3afda33f-54ef-48dd-852a-21b8320df762|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Financial Times}} after its member parties had broken up over personal and policy disagreements,{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Catherine|date=5 July 2024|title=Left-Wing New Popular Front Scored Big in France's Vote. Who Are Its Members?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/france-left-new-popular-front.html|access-date=6 July 2024|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825151154/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/france-left-new-popular-front.html|archive-date=25 August 2024}} from nuclear energy to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Leftist politician François Ruffin called on all left-wing parties, including the Ecologists, to form a popular front.{{cite news|last1=Corbet|first1=Sylvie|last2=Petrequin|first2=Samuel|date=9 June 2024|title=Macron dissolves the French parliament and calls a snap election after defeat in EU vote|url=https://apnews.com/article/france-european-election-national-rally-marine-lepen-b132616d24de829660d8dbe0659e50fd|access-date=10 June 2024|work=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102453/https://apnews.com/article/france-european-election-national-rally-marine-lepen-b132616d24de829660d8dbe0659e50fd|archive-date=10 July 2024}} Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure called to "create a popular front against the far right" but dismissed the notion of the left allying itself with Macron and criticized his policies.{{cite news|last1=Abboud|first1=Leila|last2=Klasa|first2=Adrienne|title=French parties reject Macron's offer for alliance against far right|url=https://www.ft.com/content/8936b70d-d71c-44ad-860a-6a5772fee175|access-date=12 June 2024|work=Financial Times}}

On 10 June, the New Popular Front, also called the Ecological and Social Popular Front,{{cite web|url=https://www.idees-beaumont.org/Front-populaire-ecologique-et-social|title=Européennes. Pour un Front populaire écologique et social|trans-title=Europeans. For an ecological and social Popular Front|website=IDÉES Pour Beaumont|language=fr|date=11 June 2024|access-date=6 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831003254/https://www.idees-beaumont.org/Front-populaire-ecologique-et-social|archive-date=31 August 2024}} was announced with an intent to "build an alternative to Emmanuel Macron and fight the racist project of the extreme right" in the upcoming elections.{{cite news|last=Garnier|first=Hugues|date=10 June 2024|title=Programme, candidature unique... Les partis de gauche appellent à créer un "nouveau Front populaire"|trans-title=Program, single candidacy... Left-wing parties call for the creation of a "new Popular Front"|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/europeennes/programme-candidature-unique-les-partis-de-gauche-appellent-a-creer-un-nouveau-front-populaire_AN-202406100931.html|access-date=11 June 2024|website=BFMTV|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903165418/https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/europeennes/programme-candidature-unique-les-partis-de-gauche-appellent-a-creer-un-nouveau-front-populaire_AN-202406100931.html|archive-date=3 September 2024}}{{cite news|date=10 June 2024|title=Législatives : accord entre les partis de gauche pour des " candidatures uniques " dans chaque circonscription dès le premier tour|trans-title=Legislative elections: agreement between left-wing parties for "single candidates" in each constituency from the first round|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/10/legislatives-accord-entre-les-partis-de-gauche-pour-des-candidatures-uniques-dans-chaque-circonscription-des-le-premier-tour_6238542_823448.html|access-date=11 June 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}{{cite news|date=11 June 2024|title=French opposition parties on the left and right seek alliances ahead of snap elections|url=https://apnews.com/article/france-election-macron-far-right-le-pen-bardella-fec09b32120c76903a5b6c0bdda5406e|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Associated Press|archive-url=|archive-date=}} The alliance was formed in order to stop the far-right National Rally party from taking power. The name intends to hark back on the old Popular Front formed in the 1930s. The alliance, which in addition to the main left-wing parties also includes several trade union and anti-racist groups, agreed to a single joint slate of candidates going into the first round of the elections,{{cite news|last=Nelken|first=Sacha|title=Accord de la gauche pour des «candidatures uniques» : récit d'une (courte) soirée|trans-title=|url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/accord-de-la-gauche-pour-des-candidatures-uniques-recit-dune-courte-soiree-20240610_M2QVPW7UAJCADDVFEAJBRA2OOQ/|access-date=15 June 2024|work=Libération|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} making the French left the strongest and main challenger to the National Rally.{{cite news|date=19 June 2024|title=La campagna elettorale di Macron è contro la sinistra|trans-title=|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/06/19/strategia-macron-elezioni/|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Il Post|language=it|archive-url=|archive-date=}}

{{Main|2024 French legislative election}}

Initially, the Front did not designate a possible next prime minister in the event of success in the legislative election. On 12 June, Jean-Luc Mélenchon was confident of being prime minister but added he was neither excluding nor imposing himself.{{cite web|date=12 June 2024|title='Je ne m'élimine pas, mais je ne m'impose pas': Mélenchon se dit 'capable' d'être Premier ministre|trans-title=|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/legislatives/je-ne-m-elimine-pas-mais-je-ne-m-impose-pas-melenchon-se-dit-capable-d-etre-premier-ministre_AN-202406120938.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=BFMTV|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} On 16 June, he expressed his willingness to step aside for the sake of unity, saying: "I will never be the problem. If you don't want me to be prime minister, I won't be." On 22 June, Mélenchon stepped up to this responsibility, saying that it was agreed that the largest parliamentary group within the Front would present its candidate for prime minister.{{cite web|date=23 June 2024|title=VIDEO. Législatives 2024 : Jean-Luc Mélenchon souhaite 'bien évidemment' toujours devenir Premier ministre|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/legislatives/video-legislatives-2024-je-ne-m-elimine-pas-et-je-ne-m-impose-pas-assure-jean-luc-melenchon-concernant-le-poste-de-premier-ministre_6621264.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=franceinfo:|language=fr}}{{cite news|date=22 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : Jean-Luc Mélenchon « bien évidemment » prêt à devenir Premier ministre|trans-title=2024 Legislative Elections: Jean-Luc Mélenchon "Obviously" Ready to Become Prime Minister|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/elections/legislatives/legislatives-2024-jean-luc-melenchon-bien-evidemment-pret-a-devenir-premier-ministre-5cf43368-cbac-4a00-be20-3ba2a6b9f3c7|access-date=26 June 2024|work=Ouest-France|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} For Raphaël Glucksmann and Carole Delga, the left-wing candidate for prime minister would not be Mélenchon. After his 22 June speech, Mélenchon's figure was brandished by the National Rally and the presidential camp as a repellent.{{cite web|last=David|first=Romain|date=24 June 2024|title=Nouveau Front populaire : Jean-Luc Mélenchon, un caillou dans la chaussure des partenaires de LFI|trans-title=New Popular Front: Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a pebble in the shoe of LFI partners|url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/nouveau-front-populaire-jean-luc-melenchon-un-caillou-dans-la-chaussure-des-partenaires-de-lfi|access-date=26 June 2024|website=Public Sénat|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}{{cite web|title=Législatives: Jean-Luc Mélenchon à Matignon? La gauche rejette l'idée, 'c'est un repoussoir'|trans-title=Legislative: Jean-Luc Mélenchon at Matignon? The left rejects the idea, 'it's a deterrent'|url=https://rmc.bfmtv.com/actualites/politique/legislatives-jean-luc-melenchon-a-matignon-la-gauche-rejette-l-idee-c-est-un-repoussoir_AV-202406240520.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=RMC|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}

Several voices in the coalition opposed this hypothesis,{{cite web|date=24 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : Jean-Luc Mélenchon se déclare candidat pour Matignon, la gauche divisée|trans-title=2024 Legislative Elections: Jean-Luc Mélenchon Declares Himself a Candidate for Matignon, the Left Divided|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/politique/melenchon/legislatives-2024-jean-luc-melenchon-se-declare-candidat-pour-matignon-la-gauche-divisee_6622872.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=franceinfo:|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}{{cite news|date=25 June 2024|title=' Emmanuel Macron et Jean-Luc Mélenchon, épouvantails dans leurs camps respectifs '|trans-title=|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/25/emmanuel-macron-et-jean-luc-melenchon-epouvantails-dans-leurs-camps-respectifs_6243606_823448.html|access-date=26 June 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} considering Mélenchon not unifying enough, in particular Fabien Roussel, Clémentine Autain, François Hollande, and Marine Tondelier.{{cite news|date=25 June 2024|title="Emmanuel Macron et Jean-Luc Mélenchon, épouvantails dans leurs camps respectifs"|trans-title="Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, scarecrows in their respective camps"|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/25/emmanuel-macron-et-jean-luc-melenchon-epouvantails-dans-leurs-camps-respectifs_6243606_823448.html|access-date=26 June 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} On 24 June, Mélenchon said he was not a candidate but that the prime minister would be from La France Insoumise. On 25 June, François Ruffin said Mélenchon impeded the Front.{{cite web|date=25 June 2024|title=VIDÉO – Pour François Ruffin, Mélenchon "est un obstacle à la victoire" du Nouveau Front populaire|trans-title=VIDEO – For François Ruffin, Mélenchon “is an obstacle to the victory” of the New Popular Front|url=https://www.tf1info.fr/elections/video-elections-legislatives-anticipees-pour-francois-ruffin-jean-luc-melenchon-est-un-obstacle-a-la-victoire-du-nouveau-front-populaire-2305711.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=TF1 INFO|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}{{cite web|last=Marianne|date=25 June 2024|title='Rejoins le RN direct !' : Quatennens attaque Ruffin, pour qui 'Mélenchon est 'un obstacle' à la victoire'|trans-title='Join the RN directly!': Quatennens attacks Ruffin, for whom 'Mélenchon is 'an obstacle' to victory'|url=https://www.marianne.net/politique/melenchon/rejoins-le-rn-direct-quatennens-attaque-ruffin-pour-qui-melenchon-est-un-obstacle-a-la-victoire|access-date=26 June 2024|website=Marianne|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} Ruffin and Roussel said they were ready to take on this responsibility.{{cite news|date=15 June 2024|title=Carole Delga au « Monde » : « Jean-Luc Mélenchon ne sera pas premier ministre »|trans-title=Carole Delga to "Le Monde": "Jean-Luc Mélenchon will not be prime minister"|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/15/carole-delga-jean-luc-melenchon-ne-sera-pas-premier-ministre_6240163_823448.html|access-date=26 June 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}{{cite web|title=Mélenchon Premier ministre? Les figures de gauche ne disent pas non, mais ont déjà des alternatives|trans-title=Mélenchon Prime Minister? Left-wing figures do not say no, but already have alternatives|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/legislatives/melenchon-premier-ministre-les-figures-de-gauche-ne-disent-pas-non-mais-ont-deja-des-alternatives_AN-202406140596.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=BFMTV|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} Valérie Rabault, the vice-president of the French National Assembly, said she was in favour of a female candidate, citing Delga, Clémentine Autain, and herself.{{cite news|last=Marie|first=Juliette|date=13 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : qui sera Premier ministre ? À gauche, ils sont déjà trois à se dire « capables »|trans-title=2024 Legislative Elections: Who will be Prime Minister? On the left, there are already three who say they are "capable"|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/elections/legislatives/legislatives-2024-qui-sera-premier-ministre-a-gauche-ils-sont-deja-trois-a-se-dire-capables-7e225140-2959-11ef-98cf-40d5bb3b7742|access-date=26 June 2024|work=Ouest-France|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} Former CFDT leader Laurent Berger was also proposed by Glucksmann and Sandrine Rousseau.{{cite web|title='Je ne m'élimine pas, mais je ne m'impose pas': Mélenchon se dit 'capable' d'être Premier ministre|trans-title='I'm not eliminating myself, but I'm not imposing myself': Mélenchon says he is 'capable' of being Prime Minister|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/legislatives/je-ne-m-elimine-pas-mais-je-ne-m-impose-pas-melenchon-se-dit-capable-d-etre-premier-ministre_AN-202406120938.html|access-date=26 June 2024|website=BFMTV|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}} On 22 June, a LegiTrack poll by OpinionWay-Vae Solis for Les Echos and Radio Classique showed that in the event of the Front's victory, the French would prefer a prime minister from the Socialist Party (at 44 percent) rather than from La France Insoumise (at 25 percent).{{cite news|date=22 June 2024|title=SONDAGE EXCLUSIF – Les Français préféreraient un Premier ministre issu du PS plutôt que de LFI|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/elections/legislatives/sondage-exclusif-les-francais-prefereraient-un-premier-ministre-issu-du-ps-plutot-que-de-lfi-2103192|access-date=26 June 2024|website=Les Echos|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}

Of the 546 candidates for the Front, 229 were from La France Insoumise, 175 from the Socialist Party, 92 from the Ecologists, and 50 from the French Communist Party, reflecting the Socialist Party's resurgence. After its establishment, polling showed that 25 to 28 percent of likely voters backed the Front, behind the 31 percent who supported the National Rally but ahead of Macron and his allies, estimated to be below 20 percent; a mid-June IFOP poll similarly showed a gridlock situation, with the Front at 29 percent, behind the National Rally at 34 percent and the presidential camp at 22 percent.{{cite news|last=Alderman|first=Liz|date=20 June 2024|title=French Business Leaders See Threat to Economy From Macron's Opponents|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/business/france-elections-economy.html|access-date=21 June 2024|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=|archive-date=}} In the first round, the Front finished five points behind the National Rally, with Macron and his allies coming a distant third. According to a tracker from the Financial Times, the Front had the second most first-place finishes (156) after the National Rally (296) and before the presidential camp (65). Among these who finished second, the Front had 158 candidates, compared to 154 for Macron's camp and the 117 of the National Rally. Overall, as many as 85 candidates had cleared the 50 percent threshold to win election in the first round, and 291 third-place candidates across the three leading blocs qualified for the second round.{{cite magazine|last=Stetler|first=Harrison|date=1 July 2024|title=Emmanuel Macron Is Now a Lame-Duck President|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/07/france-macron-snap-elections-far-right|access-date=15 July 2024|magazine=Jacobin|archive-url=|archive-date=}} Afterwards, attempts were made to build a Republican Front, asking their candidates from three-way races to drop out in order to reduce the likelihood of a National Rally victory in the runoff election.

The Front soon made clear it was willing to withdraw its candidate and support the presidential camp against the far-right where it had little likelihood of victory. In turn, the presidential camp offered to do the same, although Macron's indications were less clear. During the electoral campaign, Macron focused on attacking the left and said that as a general rule his coalition would also withdraw its candidates who had finished third but not always; for example, he said he would evaluate cases where candidates from La France Insoumise came second on an individual basis. Several voters and French newspapers, including {{lang|fr|Libération}} and {{lang|fr|L'Humanité}}, criticized the presidential camp for this ambiguity.{{cite news|date=2 July 2024|title=Più di 200 candidati si sono ritirati dal secondo turno delle elezioni legislative francesi|trans-title=More than 200 candidates have withdrawn from the second round of the French legislative elections|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/07/02/candidati-ritirati-secondo-turno-elezioni-francia-triangolari/|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Il Post|language=it|archive-url=|archive-date=}} As of 5 July 2024, this Republican Front resulted in the withdrawal of more than 130 of the Front's candidates, along with about 80 candidates of Macron's party and presidential camp. As a result, the Front made it harder for the National Rally to achieve an absolute majority, with the latest polls indicating that while the National Rally was still well positioned to win the most seats in the National Assembly, it might fall short of the 289 needed for an absolute majority.

According to the final results, the Front obtained 182 seats, ahead of Ensemble with 168 seats and the National Rally plus a minority of The Republicans with 143 seats. Compared to 2022, the Front made significant gains both in terms of votes in the first round and in the number of seats compared to NUPES.{{cite magazine|last=Stetler|first=Harrison|date=8 July 2024|title=France's New Popular Front Has Won a Historic Victory|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/07/france-new-popular-front-melenchon-victory|access-date=15 July 2024|magazine=Jacobin|archive-url=|archive-date=}} On 12 July 2024, a group of dissidents from La France Insoumise announced the formation of a new party named L'Après. The party claimed to be "in service of the New Popular Front".{{Cite web|title=Autain, Corbière, Simmonet... Les dissidents LFI lancent une 'nouvelle force politique' nommée L'Après|trans-title=Autain, Corbière, Simmonet... LFI dissidents launch a 'new political force' called L'Après|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/autain-corbiere-simmonet-les-dissidents-lfi-lancent-une-nouvelle-force-politique-nommee-l-apres_AV-202407120365.html|access-date=12 July 2024|website=BFMTV|language=fr|archive-url=|archive-date=}}

After the fall of Michael Barnier's government in December 2024, Macron met with the Socialist Party, Ecologists, and Communist Party in talks to propose a solution to the political deadlock. Originally meeting with Olivier Faure, the talks were criticised by Mélenchon for breaking with the alliance's line.{{Cite web|date=2024-12-06|title=Macron meets with Socialists as French president seeks new PM|url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/12/06/who-will-be-frances-next-pm-left-wing-at-odds-after-macron-meets-with-socialists|access-date=2024-12-13|website=euronews|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Macron to name new French PM on Friday in bid to restore stability|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx27wp35j5jo|access-date=2024-12-13|website=www.bbc.com|language=en-GB}}

File:Répartition des circonscriptions du Nouveau Front populaire (NFP).svg

The Front is described as a broad left-wing alliance, with centre-left and far-left factions. On 14 June, the left-wing party leaders met at a conference centre near the National Assembly to explain in greater detail the 150 measures of Front's political platform, and contains some changes from the 2022 NUPES programme. While the Front has been referred to as far-left by its critics, including Macron and the far-right, its political programme is described by scholars as left-wing.{{cite web|last1=Dubuisson|first1=Aurélien|last2=Stuppia|first2=Paolo|date=4 July 2024|title=Pourquoi le Nouveau Front populaire et son programme commun ne sont pas d'« extrême gauche »|url=http://theconversation.com/pourquoi-le-nouveau-front-populaire-et-son-programme-commun-ne-sont-pas-d-extreme-gauche-233845|access-date=7 July 2024|website=The Conversation|language=fr}}{{efn|During the electoral campaign, both the presidential camp and the far right described the Front as far left, owing it to La France Insoumise and now applying it to the Front as a whole.{{cite web|last=Otter|first=Margaux|date=13 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 {{!}} La France insoumise (LFI) de Jean-Luc Mélenchon est-il un parti d'extrême gauche comme le dit Emmanuel Macron ?|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/20240613.OBS89734/la-france-insoumise-est-il-un-parti-d-extreme-gauche.html|access-date=15 July 2024|website=Le Nouvel Obs|language=fr}}{{cite news|date=21 June 2024|title=Vidéo. La France insoumise est-elle d'extrême gauche? Comprendre en trois minutes|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/comprendre-en-3-minutes/video/2024/06/21/la-france-insoumise-est-elle-d-extreme-gauche-comprendre-en-trois-minutes_6241916_6176282.html|access-date=15 June 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr}}{{cite web|last=Favier|first=Olivier|date=5 July 2024|title=Extrême gauche, extrême droite, extrême centre: de quoi parle-t-on?|url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/connaissances/20240705-extr%C3%AAme-gauche-extr%C3%AAme-droite-extr%C3%AAme-centre-de-quoi-parle-t-on|access-date=15 July 2024|website=RFI|language=fr}} There is no clear consensus among scholars on the far-left and its definition,{{cite web|last=Faure|first=Justine|date=2 July 2024|title=Est-il juste de classer le Rassemblement national et La France insoumise parmi les 'extrêmes' ?|url=https://www.tf1info.fr/elections/est-il-juste-de-classer-le-rassemblement-national-et-la-france-insoumise-parmi-les-extremes-2306778.html|access-date=15 July 2024|website=TF1 INFO|language=fr}} with some scholars using different definitions but agreeing that there are differences and pluralism within it. According to political science researcher Christine Pina, what distinguishes the mainstream left from the far-left (where despite the oppositions and differences in militant cultures between Trotskyists, Maoists, and libertarian socialists or anarchists, they all share three common denominators that distinguish them from the mainstream left) is that the far-left proposes a sort of maximum programme. In the words of historian Aurélien Dubuisson (associate researcher at The Sciences Po Centre for History and author of The Far Left in France published by the Blaise Pascal University Press) and sociologist Paolo Stuppia (member of the European Centre for Sociology and Political Science), "[w]hile admitting immediate and transitory requests such as that of a better sharing of added value for the benefit of employees, the 'far-left' defends above all a maximalist programme in which the abolition of the capitalist model (today we also speak of fossil capital) occupies a central place. ... However, none on the left, including La France Insoumise, despite its radical criticisms of economic neoliberalism, defends such a process which would consist in a transformation of positive law to organise, even gradually, the disappearance of capitalist exploitation and the competition paradigm". According to Dubuisson, this is "a mistake that has been made in recent years, especially by the right wing of the political spectrum". Dubuisson cites Mitterrand's programme from 1981, which he said would be considered "the worst extremist of the moment. But in 1981, the political context was different, it was permeated by left-wing themes."{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Elise|date=14 June 2024|title=Pourquoi c'est faux de dire que LFI est un parti d'extrême gauche ?|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/4096310-20240614-elections-legislatives-2024-pourquoi-faux-dire-lfi-parti-extreme-gauche|access-date=15 July 2024|website=20minutes.fr|language=fr}} According to Dubuisson and political scientist Rémi Lefebvre, it is no more radical than Mitterand's.{{cite web|last=Desseauve|first=Rodolphe|date=13 June 2024|title=LFI est-il vraiment un parti d'extrême gauche, comme le dit Emmanuel Macron ?|url=https://fr.news.yahoo.com/lfi-est-il-vraiment-un-parti-dextreme-gauche-comme-le-dit-emmanuel-macron-123403998.html|access-date=15 July 2024|website=Yahoo News|language=fr}} Similarly, in the words of political scientist Christopher Bickerton, the Front's programme echoes the "old Keynesian strategy of boosting aggregate demand through government spending" of Mitterrand's programme of 1981.{{cite web|last=Bickerton|first=Christopher|date=26 June 2024|title=The faux radicalism of the Popular Front|url=https://unherd.com/2024/06/the-faux-radicalism-of-the-popular-front/|access-date=15 July 2024|website=UnHerd}}}} Le Monde summarized the Front's political platform as being to the left of Raphaël Glucksmann and to the right of La France Insoumise, with a programme that included left-wing positions on economic and social issues that are shared by all parties but also foreign policy proposals closer to the centre-left and the Socialist Party.{{cite web|date=15 June 2024|title=Cosa c'è nel programma della nuova coalizione di sinistra in Francia|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/06/15/programma-coalizione-sinistra-francia/|access-date=7 July 2024|website=Il Post|language=it}}{{cite web|date=3 July 2024|title=Macron e la sinistra radicale non riescono a fare fronte comune|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/07/03/la-france-insoumise-emmanuel-macron-alleanza/|access-date=6 July 2024|website=Il Post|language=it}}

The Front's plan is divided into three phases:

1. The first fifteen days of the Front's government would see a slate of emergency measures, including an increase in after-tax minimum wage to €1,600 per month, price freezes on necessities and energy bills, investment in social housing, and a rejection of deficit spending rules.
2. The first 100 days would lay the groundwork for proposed changes through five legislative packages covering purchasing power, education, healthcare, ecological planning, and the "abolition of billionaire privileges".
3. The months beyond, or transformations, which would foresee the sustainable reinforcement of public services, the right to housing, green reindustrialization, police and criminal justice reforms, and constitutional changes leading to the founding of a French Sixth Republic.

The Front pledged to abolish Article 49.3 of the French Constitution that allows governments to force legislation through the National Assembly without a vote. The Front also pledged to introduce proportional representation for elections in France, such as the National Assembly, and to organise a constituent assembly to prepare a new Constitution of France, moving from the French Fifth Republic to a Sixth Republic.{{cite web|date=14 June 2024|title=Le programme des 100 premiers jours du « Nouveau Front populaire »|url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/le-programme-des-100-premiers-jours-du-nouveau-front-populaire|last=David|first=Romain|access-date=21 June 2024|website=Public Sénat}}

The Front supports a retirement age of 60 and the repeal of the controversial 2023 French pension reform law and reverse the unpopular reform of unemployment benefits pushed by Macron's government. The Front also supports introduction of menstrual leave,{{cite news|date=14 June 2024|title=Ce que contient le programme du Nouveau Front populaire pour les élections législatives|language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/14/ce-que-contient-le-programme-du-nouveau-front-populaire-pour-les-elections-legislatives_6239928_823448.html|access-date=14 June 2024|work=Le Monde}} and a 14 percent increase in the minimum wage, adjusting salaries and pensions with the inflation rate and freezing food and energy prices to boost the purchasing power of its citizens. Additionally, the Front would re-introduce the solidarity tax on wealth that had been abolished in 2017 by Macron's government, as well as introduce a new tax on excess profits, and raising the Generalized Social Contribution paid by the richest taxpayers.{{cite news|date=19 June 2024|title=Ce qu'il faut retenir du programme économique du Nouveau Front populaire, entre ISF climatique et smic à 1 600 euros net|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/21/ce-qu-il-faut-retenir-du-programme-economique-du-nouveau-front-populaire-entre-isf-climatique-et-smic-a-1-600-euros-net_6242113_823448.html|access-date=21 June 2024|work=Le Monde}} In contrast to the criticized economic policies of the National Rally even as Marine Le Pen reassured business, the Front described its economic plans as more responsible because its increased spending would be paid for by billions of euros in planned tax rises. Olivier Faure, the Socialist Party leader, said: "We will finance this programme by dipping into the pockets of those who can most afford it."{{cite web|date=18 June 2024|title=French businesses court Marine Le Pen after taking fright at left's policies|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e28f9753-1770-4c8c-91d8-e7bb7ed44feb|access-date=6 July 2024|website=Financial Times}}

The Front pledged to make school lunches and supplies free.{{cite web|date=21 June 2024|title=France's new left-wing alliance vows to raise government spending by €150 billion|url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240621-france-s-new-popular-front-programme-to-cost-100-billion-euros-in-2025|access-date=21 June 2024|website=France 24}} It also pledged to abolish the Parcoursup university admissions system.{{cite web|date=21 June 2024|title=Législatives anticipées : que proposent les trois blocs sur l'éducation ?|url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/legislatives-anticipees-que-proposent-les-trois-blocs-sur-leducation|last=Sauvage|first=Flora|access-date=21 June 2024|website=Public Sénat}}

The Front supports Ukraine and its defense against Russian aggression, including military aid, calling upon France and the West to support Ukraine more, while committing against any direct intervention by the French military.{{cite news|author=Agence France-Presse|title=Législatives : le programme du Front Populaire en 3 minutes chrono |url=https://www.latribune.fr/economie/france/legislatives-salaires-retraites-ukraine-le-programme-du-nouveau-front-populaire-devoile-999841.html|work=La Tribune|language=fr|date=14 June 2024|access-date=6 July 2024}}{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Eric|date=19 June 2024|title=France: a new Popular Front is born|url=https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2024-06-19/france-new-popular-front-born|access-date=6 July 2024|website=Workers' Liberty}} It also supports cancelling debt and seizing assets in France of Russian oligarchs. Within the framework of a two-state solution, the Front's platform calls for France to recognize the State of Palestine, and enforce an arms embargo against Israel,{{cite web|language=fr|title=Législatives 2024 : programme, circonscriptions... Ce que contient l'accord du Nouveau Front populaire |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/legislatives-2024-programme-circonscriptions-futur-premier-ministre-ce-que-contient-l-accord-du-nouveau-front-populaire_6603777.html|website=Franceinfo|date=14 June 2024}} while it describes the 7 October attacks as terrorist massacres. The platform opposes war, antisemitism, Islamophobia, the hostage situation, and Hamas' theocracy.

In contrast to the far-right, which proposed to drastically cut immigration, the Front pledged to make the asylum process more generous and smooth, reversing the 2023 immigration law that was considered so right-wing that it was criticized within the presidential camp.

The Front pledged to introduce gender self-determination.{{cite web|date=19 June 2024|title='Changer de sexe en mairie' : les associations LGBT+ 'atterrées' par les propos d'Emmanuel Macron|url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/l-info-de-france-inter/l-info-de-france-inter-6348732|access-date=21 June 2024|website=France Inter}} It also pledged to abolish the General National Service.

File:Affiche Nouveau Front populaire Votez.jpg

On 11 June, Kamel Chibli, a Socialist Party member and the vice president of the Occitanie region, opposed the agreement, accusing it of being a NUPES 2.{{cite web|title=Législatives 2024 : 'Cet accord, c'est la Nupes 2, de la tambouille politique, on ne va pas se coucher devant LFI', s'indigne Kamel Chibli|url=https://www.midilibre.fr/2024/06/11/legislatives-2024-cet-accord-cest-la-nupes-2-de-la-tambouille-politique-on-ne-va-pas-se-coucher-devant-lfi-sindigne-kamel-chibli-12008369.php|access-date=11 June 2024|website=Midilibre.fr|language=fr}} Former French president François Hollande, who had been an opponent of NUPES and La France Insoumise, announced that he supported the Front,{{cite web|date=14 June 2024|title=French left-wing alliance New Popular Front vows 'total break' with Macron policies|url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240614-french-leftwing-alliance-new-popular-front-vows-to-break-with-macron-policies|access-date=14 June 2024|website=France 24}} and was later confirmed as a candidate for the alliance in Corrèze's 1st constituency, a seat he had held from 1988 until his election to the presidency in 2012.{{cite news|date=15 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 – Info La Montagne : François Hollande candidat dans la première circonscription de Corrèze|url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/tulle-19000/actualites/l-ancien-president-de-la-republique-francois-hollande-candidat-dans-la-premiere-circonscription-de-correze_14518728/|access-date=15 June 2024|newspaper=www.lamontagne.fr|language=fr|last1=France|first1=Centre }} Raphaël Glucksmann, leader of Place Publique and member of the European Parliament who was initially cautious about supporting the alliance,{{cite web|last=Benakis|first=Theodoros|date=10 June 2024|title=Raphaël Glucksmann calls for a Left coalition with a protagonist role in French politics|url=https://www.europeaninterest.eu/raphael-glucksmann-calls-for-a-left-coalition-with-the-role-of-protagonist-in-french-politics/|access-date=15 June 2024|website=European Interest}} ultimately announced his support of it on 14 June.{{cite web|date=14 June 2024|title=French MEP Glucksmann joins left-wing union New Popular Front, vows clear stance on Gaza, Ukraine|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240614-%F0%9F%94%B4-french-mep-glucksmann-joins-leftwing-union-popular-front-vows-clear-stance-on-gaza-europe-and-ukraine|access-date=15 June 2024|website=France 24}}

The socialist magazine Jacobin praised the surprising reunion of the left-wing forces after internal competition in the European elections, and analyzed the controversial decision by La France Insoumise to purge certain candidates, which ignited significant internal criticism. Candidates like Alexis Corbière and Raquel Garrido argued for reconciliation with other left-wing forces. Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon faced backlash from both members and allies, who said the move was autocratic and damaged party unity. Critics contended that the purge was an attempt to centralize power and stifle dissenting voices within the party. This internal conflict highlighted broader issues within the Front, as the need for unity against the far-right was undermined by such divisive actions, threatening the effectiveness and cohesion of the left-wing alliance.{{cite magazine|last=Stetler|first=Harrison|title=France's Left Needs Unity More Than Ever|url=https://jacobin.com/2024/06/france-left-divisions-new-popular-front|access-date=20 June 2024|magazine=Jacobin}}

French president Emmanuel Macron and its coalition focused on attacking the Front more than the National Rally, hoping to split the vote of the French left. Some observers criticized this strategy, calling it confusing and controversial,{{cite news|date=18 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : la stratégie confuse du camp Macron dans l'attribution de ses investitures|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/06/18/legislatives-2024-la-strategie-confuse-du-camp-macron-dans-l-attribution-de-ses-investitures_6241049_823448.html|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr}} as France has a long history of Republican fronts and cordon sanitaire, where all democratic political forces try to collaborate to stem the rise of the far-right. According to some critics, by attacking the French left and the Front over the National Rally, Macron was helping the far-right advance rather than opposing it.{{cite news|last=Bouchet-Petersen|first=Jonathan|date=19 June 2024|title=Transphobie, diabolisation de la gauche «immigrationniste» : Emmanuel Macron, agent électoral du RN|trans-title=Transphobia, demonization of the "immigrationist" left: Emmanuel Macron, electoral agent of the RN|url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/transphobie-diabolisation-de-la-gauche-immigrationniste-emmanuel-macron-agent-electoral-du-rn-20240619_BOZMUDTWVJCNDGWZY2SWHJMIXY/|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Libération|language=fr}} For example, some of Macron's reactions, such as criticism of the Front for advocating a pro-immigration programme, were seen as echoing the far-right's talking points and rhetoric.{{cite news|date=18 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : Emmanuel Macron estime que le Nouveau Front populaire propose « un programme totalement immigrationniste »|trans-title=2024 Legislative Elections: Emmanuel Macron Believes that the New Popular Front Proposes "a Totally Immigrationist Program"|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/live/2024/06/18/en-direct-legislatives-2024-emmanuel-macron-estime-que-le-nouveau-front-populaire-propose-un-programme-totalement-immigrationniste_6241018_823448.html|access-date=6 July 2024|work=Le Monde|language=fr}} Macron further criticized some of their proposals, such as allowing trans people to record their gender change on their marital status by visiting the town hall.{{cite web|last1=Baldit|first1=Etienne|last2=Pol|first2=Chez|date=19 June 2024|title=Transphobie : Macron trahit ses promesses progressistes de 2017 et 2022|url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/transphobie-macron-trahit-ses-promesses-progressistes-de-2017-et-2022-20240619_G74EJ3AFUBH2FH2GVIFWO6A7WY/|access-date=6 July 2024|website=Libération|language=fr}}

Former French prime minister Manuel Valls, a former member of the Socialist Party who had joined Renaissance and was an opponent of NUPES in 2022, denounced the agreement.{{cite web|date=11 June 2024|title=Manuel Valls : « Ce soi-disant front populaire est une faute politique et morale »|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/manuel-valls-ce-soi-disant-front-populaire-est-une-faute-politique-et-morale-11-06-2024-2562668_20.php|access-date=11 June 2024|website=Le Point|language=fr}} Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of Economics and Finance and member of Renaissance, criticized the practicality of the Front's programme.{{cite web|date=14 June 2024|title=Législatives 2024 : le programme du nouveau Front populaire est 'un délire total', tacle le ministre de l'Économie Bruno Le Maire|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/legislatives/legislatives-2024-le-programme-du-nouveau-front-populaire-est-un-delire-total-tacle-le-ministre-de-l-economie-bruno-le-maire_6603819.html|access-date=14 June 2024|website=Franceinfo}} French prime minister Gabriel Attal, also of Renaissance, called the Front "an agreement of shame".{{cite web|date=14 June 2024|title=French left-wing parties form 'Popular Front' to face far right in snap election|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20240614-french-left-wing-parties-form-popular-front-to-face-far-right-in-snap-election|access-date=14 June 2024|work=RFI}} Macron judged the Front's programme to be four-time worse than the National Rally's, saying that there would be "no more laïcité, they will go back on the immigration law, and there are things that are completely grotesque like changing your gender at the town hall."{{cite news|date=19 June 2024|title=Macron accused of transphobia over criticism of left-wing alliance policy|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/06/19/macron-accused-of-transphobia-over-criticism-of-left-wing-union-policy_6675177_5.html|access-date=21 June 2024|work=Le Monde}}

Volt France, a liberal Eurofederalist party, criticized the agreement, and echoed Glucksmann's call for another front uniting all republican and pro-European forces.{{cite web|title=Volt appelle à la création d'un Front Européen face au RN|url=https://voltfrance.org/actualites/volt-appelle-a-la-creation-dun-front-europeen|access-date=14 June 2024|website=Volt France|language=fr}} Guillaume Lacroix, the leader of the Radical Party of the Left, announced that while his party was not part of the agreement,{{cite tweet|number=1800956152236195900|user=Lacroix_PRG|title=C'est pourtant simple. Je ne suis pas à la table de négociations. Je n'ai formulé aucune demande d'investiture. Nous soutiendrons les candidats de gauche qui partagent nos valeurs.|date=12 June 2024|language=fr|last=Lacroix|first=Guillaume}} they would support "left-wing [candidates] who share its republican, secular and universalist values as well as all Republican candidates capable of beating the [National Rally]."{{cite tweet|number=1800954088059806153|title=Le PRG soutiendra les femmes et hommes de gauche qui partagent ses valeurs républicaines, laïques et universalistes ainsi que tous les candidats républicains en capacité de battre le RN. Il faut sauver la République.|user=Lacroix_PRG|date=12 June 2024|language=fr|last=Lacroix|first=Guillaume}} Cap21 proposed uniting the left, centre and ecologists. Unser Land, which is a member of Régions et Peuples Solidaires along with the Breton Democratic Union and Euskal Herria Bai, announced an independent candidacy, saying that only their candidates support "an autonomous Alsace in a federal France" and that "Macron is a Jacobin, Le Pen and Mélenchon even more so".{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/unserland.mouvementalsacien/posts/pfbid0cddVNeXApxCErUskWeJiDbm8xsnoTrffD9XwoHyAhJ8xG7NE8EC4vKSngiLyVaTrl|title=Communiqué de presse 📣|language=fr|date=14 June 2024|access-date=15 June 2024|author-link=Unser Land|author=Unser Land Mouvement Alsacien|via=Facebook}}

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