France: far right and left make gains in municipal elections
In the first round of municipal elections on Sunday, the left-wing populist La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) gained ground in many areas. In the run-up to the second round on March 22, candidates are trying to form alliances in many municipalities, particularly between moderate left-wing parties and the controversial LFI.
A taste of things to come
The municipal elections highlight just how relentless the political camps are in their fight against each other, says The Spectator:
“The first round of voting in France's municipal elections has laid bare the country's deep fractures. ... The left believes the bogeyman is the 'fascism' of Le Pen's party, while the right warns that the 'Islamism' of the left is the greatest danger facing France. It is a taste of things to come ahead of next year's presidential and parliamentary elections. They will be the most bitterly contested elections in the history of the Fifth Republic: progressives against traditionalists, Metropolitan France against Provincial France, Melenchon's 'New France' of immigration against Le Pen's Old France.”
Unite against authoritarianism
The left must stand together, demands Le Courrier:
“With a year to go before the presidential election, these results confirm the support among a significant portion of French society for the racist and authoritarian ideology of the Rassemblement National. … In light of this threat, La France Insoumise is calling for the formation of an 'anti-fascist electoral front' for the second round. This call for unity is, however, rejected by the Socialist Party leadership. An irresponsible attitude that will certainly be counterbalanced by numerous local agreements reached against the far right between now and Tuesday evening. But it serves as a reminder that only intense grassroots mobilisation of the voter base will make it possible to forge the necessary united front against the far-right threat. ... A lesson that also extends beyond France.”
Alliances against irrelevance
L’Opinion draws conclusions regarding the presidential election in 2027:
“First, the fragmentation of political forces - which has caused so much damage in Parliament - is now spreading to major cities and threatens to take root permanently across the country. Second, the Rassemblement National has taken another step toward gaining power, in part due to its ability to get its incumbent mayors re-elected. ... Third, the Left Party continues to unite and find an anti-fascist cause that facilitates alliances with LFI. ... And fourth, without unity among Macron's camp, the conservative centre and the right, it will be impossible for the camp currently governing the country to maintain its position and escape the stranglehold of the extremists.”
The search for good candidates continues
France lacks capable leaders, Les Echos laments:
“Election after election, our fellow citizens are turning away from a political class that keeps disappointing them. Its inability to keep promises and failure to manage public finances at the national and local levels is increasingly discrediting it in the eyes of the French. This is undoubtedly the final warning before voters make a clean break, even at the risk of losing control of their own destiny. With thirteen months to go before the presidential election, we don't need dozens of pseudo-presidential candidates; we need competent, courageous, and legitimate men and women who can put our country back on track. The search continues.”