Contributed by Joe Montero

Desperate to prevent a government led by France’s New Popular Front, Emmanuel Marcon has appointed former Republican party politician Michel Barnier and appointed him as the new Prime minister charged with forming a new government. Whatever happened to the notion that those who win an election should be the ones to take office? Macron has just thrown it out the window.

This move has come about because Macron is desperate to prevent the winners from taking office and putting France on a new course, which will undo his own unpopular reforms that have made most of the French people poorer, raised the retirement age, slashed government spending on essential services, and more.

In choosing Barnier, the ongoing President has ensured a government of a much diminished and discredited party. The Republicans are akin to Australia’s Liberal Party. In all fairness though, they had declined to endorse him to stand for president and he remains an outsider. Whether he gets Republican support remains to be seen.

His backers still insist that Bernier will bring national unity to a divided France. He won’t.

The new government imposed on France is pledged to deliver more cuts Macron style. The emphasis is on cutting government expenditure. This will continue to anger France. Berner has the task of cobbling a political alliance. Without this there will be no stability.

Macron could not rely on his own party, Renaissance, also decimated in July’s election, and it is still uncertain whether the backing of all of its remainder is possible. Meanwhile, the Marine le Pen led National Rally., has reserved its decision, presumably waiting an opportunity to exert its influence, if not be given a role in government.

Unhappy with the turn in direction, the core of the new Popular Front, the Jean-Luc Mélenchon led France Unbowed, has pledged to not accept Macron’s manoeuvre. It has promised a campaign that includes industrial action and protests in the streets. This is backed by the other members of the Front, the Socialist Party, Greens, and the Communist Party.

Photo by Olivier Lejeune/LP: The leader of France Unbowed and the New National Front Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Renaissance and the Republicans was part of an election alliance against National Rally and the threat of fascism it brings. Time will show how many of their representatives will break away from this.

The experience is already showing that support for the ideal of politics through the ballot box is only precious to much of the political elite when it happens to be convenient. When it’s not convenient, it can be discarded.

It’s no surprise that one after another, many of Europe’s heads of state have welcomed Macron’s move. They face their own dilemmas, and their support for the notion of democracy is just as fickle.

France needs a government that changes the direction in which it’s travelling. The country is facing serious economic problems and deep political divisions. France needs a force that will bring unity around a shared vision and the promise of real material gains for the majority. The only force capable of doing this is the New Popular Front.

France Unbowed is based on a belief that traditional parties no longer serve democracy and is inspired by Spain’s Podemos party. Its program is based on government intervention, anti0neoliberalism, eco-friendly, and community-based people power. Its economic policy is ambitious. and includes raising the minimum wage, imposing price ceilings on essential food, electricity, gas and petrol; repeal Macron’s deeply unpopular decision to raise the retirement age to 64 and investing massively in the green transition and public services. This is to be paid for by a much more progressive taxation system, where those with the highest incomes will pay the highest rate.