- Still there -

The Nupes became, in June 2022, the first opposition force to Emmanuel Macron, thanks to unique candidacies on the left of the chessboard in the constituencies. Thus, 151 left-wing MPs entered the Palais-Bourbon, including 75 LFI, 31 PS, 23 EELV and 22 PCF.

"It has given hope to the people of the left," said a socialist elected official.

Despite recurring tensions and strategic differences, the alliance led the battle in the National Assembly against the adoption of the 2023 budget and pension reform, even winning some symbolic victories. In particular, it forced the government to review its copy on the real number of beneficiaries of the minimum pension at 1,200 euros.

United against the text in joint meetings and during demonstrations launched by the inter-union, the political parties now want to move to "act 2". Objective: to expand the coalition and allow it to win the presidential election of 2027. But also, for some, rebalancing forces and reducing rebellious hegemony.

- European shoehorn -

The France Insoumise, the dominant party in the alliance after its 22% in the presidential election, is demanding a common list in the 2024 European elections, and is putting pressure on EELV, which refuses to do so.

The ecologists, whose flagship election this is the flagship, defend a separate list, to try to strengthen first their party, weakened since the presidential election. Above all, they highlight fundamental differences concerning Europe.

If EELV or the PS clearly define themselves as pro-European, LFI or the CP are eurosceptic.

Even if a formulation had been found at the time of the Napes agreement, providing for "not respecting certain rules" of Brussels, to spare the sensitivities of all, the European question remains the main stumbling block of the alliance, notably on Ukraine, NATO or European defense.

But, for La France insoumise, if the Nupes leaves separate, the image will be disastrous, facing the far right and Macronia.

At a meeting Tuesday evening of leaders, Manuel Bompard, LFI coordinator, "said he preferred to do 25% all together than 35% separated," reports an elected ecologist. "It tells a strategy of +lose+, whereas we could make a story about the sum of all the scores of the parties of the alliance. The Stubs, they only want it under their yoke."

The PS is ready for a discussion on "the substance" to know if a common list is possible, but "if there is none, it is not the end of the Nupes", argues the secretary general of the party Pierre Jouvet: "The European election has never configured the French political space."

The communists consider unrealistic such a list which "defends everything and its opposite".

The subject risks poisoning the union, until the next presidential election.

- Joint candidacy in 2027? -

After the failure of the left in 2022, the main parties of the Nupes are convinced of the need to leave together in 2027. But the question of the designation of the common candidate, and especially the potential candidacy of Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI), are already being debated.

The boss of the PS Olivier Faure pleads to discuss first "a coalition contract", a kind of common program to rewrite, which is not necessarily to the taste of the Insoumis, whose presidential project of 2022 served as a basis for that of the Nupes.

The ecologists call for "a cooperative", which would play the role of "campaign committee" and determine the robot portrait of the ideal common candidate, while some socialists defend a "primary".

Many fear in any case that the debate is reduced to "for or against" Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Already a three-time candidate, he refuses any idea of a primary, but remains for many rebels the best option.

The other parties stress the "glass ceiling" that this controversial personality could constitute for some voters, whilst the Communists are the only ones for the moment to consider a separate candidacy.

© 2023 AFP