The problem with the US (and Canada, and to a lesser degree the UK) is that the centrists would rather lose to the far right than legitimize actual leftism.
We’ve seen this in Canada several times, at all levels, where the Liberals would rather go down in flames in an election, knowing that they’ll get another shot in a few years time, then share power with actual leftists in order to keep the right from doing more damage.
I’m really impressed with Macron. That’s a level of long term holistic thinking that you don’t normally see from neoliberal politicians.
It seemed to have been a bet that the left would be completely divided so that he could place his party as the defender against the far right in order to get an absolute majority (he only had a relative majority until now)
That didn’t work because the left parties managed to create a united front in less than a week.
But let’s not forget the following: yes, the left parties have a relative majority (or at least should given the last estimations), but the far right did gain a lot of seats in the elections compared to last time. So yeah it could have been worse, but it’s not exactly a comfortable situation either
Per first hand accounts, Macron called the elections because he legitimately thought he could win this, and then did backroom deals for his MP candidates to not drop out where in competition with the left against the far right, despite publicly claiming he would support the drop out scheme. He’s a fool and an incompetent that got France in this situation in the first place.
In fact it’s not even certain that he won’t just try to make a government by allying with the far right. He’s really got his head that far up his own ass.
Over 200 candidates from Macron’s party withdrew to consolidate votes under the New Front’s candidates. Did you’d stop paying attention like two weeks ago?
Okay, let me quote sources then. Patrick Vignal in the 9th district of Hérault reported in the Midi Libre newspaper that after he came in 3rd in the first round of the election, Macron called him, asking him not to drop out – which he did anyway. Source: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GRbNC3WWcAAIBX4.jpg
I have, in fact, been paying attention, thank you.
We’ve seen this in Canada several times, at all levels, where the Liberals would rather go down in flames in an election, knowing that they’ll get another shot in a few years time, then share power with actual leftists in order to keep the right from doing more damage
Aren’t we right now under a coalition between the liberals and the NDP? One that has been on for 3 and some years?
