Bitter French PM division may 'shipwreck' left alliance

Leaders in the left-wing alliance that surprisingly won the most seats in France’s snap election have warned that the coalition could face “shipwreck” if it does not end the bitter fighting over a possible prime minister.

- ALEXANDER BUTLER

Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel said the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance’s victory – which includes the socialists, communists, Greens and the radical left France Unbowed – was in danger of collapsing before it had even begun.

“If we don’t manage to find a solution in the hours, the days, to come, it would be a shipwreck,” Mr Roussel told BFM TV, describing the state of talks among left-wing parties as “deplorable”.

The NFP was hastily assembled before the snap election, called by the president Emmanuel Macron after his centrists were soundly beaten by the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen in European elections. Tactical voting to block the RN pushed the left-wing alliance to a leading 28 per cent of the vote in a shock result. Mr Macron’s centrists finished second and Ms Le Pen’s party were pushed into third in the second and final round of voting earlier this month. The RN had topped the firstround vote.