France! The country in which, ‘’more than anywhere else, the historical class struggles were each time fought out to a decision’’, according to Engels. Once again, the class struggles of France are being ‘’fought out to a decision’’!
This country is currently ‘’making headlines’’. It has a ‘’multi party’’ political system, in that there are so many political parties, there is almost no chance that any single party could win a majority of seats, in the French Parliament. For that reason, a coalition government is almost always necessary. The latest Parliamentary election, has proven to be no exception.
Incidentally, the Parliamentary Election is separate from the Presidential Election, which is held once every five years.
Recently, French President Macron decided to call a ‘’snap’’ election, for the Parliament. It was widely anticipated that the National Rally Party, RN, led by Marine Le Pen, would ‘’top the polls’’, win the most seats. The RN is considered to be a ‘’Far Right’’ Party, so that it was expected that France was about to ‘’move to the Right’’.
Precisely the opposite happened! France ‘’moved to the Left’’!
Immediately after President Macron called for this ‘’snap election’’, several ‘’Leftist’’ parties came together, the ‘’Socialists’’, ‘’Greens’’, ‘’Communists’’ and ‘’France Unbowed’’, to form that which they refer to as the ‘’New Popular Front’’, NFP. The French press is referring to this merger as a ‘’Far Left Coalition’’.
With the ‘’Left’’ united, they were able to mount a solid defence, against the forces of the ‘’Right’’. In the ‘’first round’’ of voting, of the 577 elections for each of the constituencies, only 76 received the necessary fifty percent required, to be elected to Parliament. All the others had to proceed to a ‘’second round’’ of voting.
In the second round of voting, it is customary for the three candidates, who won the most votes in the first round, to run against each other. Yet as the Left was united, one of the two Leftist candidates would withdraw from the race, so that the Leftist vote was not split. In this way, the voters got to choose between a Leftist candidate, and a ‘’Right Wing’’ candidate. In this way, it was frequently the Leftist candidate, who won the election.
This serves as a fine example of Leftist candidates putting aside their differences, and uniting against a common enemy. In this way, the ‘’United Left’’ managed to stop a ‘’Far Right’’ party, from coming to power.
We can compare this to the second Russian revolution of 1917, the Great October Soviet Socialist Revolution. Lenin and the Bolsheviks did not immediately take undivided power. On the contrary, they made certain compromises, with another ‘’Leftist’’ Party, the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, and succeeded in forming a coalition government.
Now in France, Parliament is divided into ‘’three big groups’’, each deeply divided, those who have ‘’no tradition of working together’’, according to the press.
The self described leader of the NFP is Jean-Luc Melenchon. He is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, and wants President Macron to allow the NFP to govern.
Yet it is not that simple! As there are 577 seats in Parliament, a majority of 289 is required. The NFP won the most seats at 178, so that they require support of other parties, in order to form a government. The two other ‘’big groups’’ of parties, are not at all anxious to work with the NFP. Parliament is in a state of gridlock!
As can be well expected, the French mainstream press is of the opinion that the ‘’Far Right’’ has been ‘’robbed’’. They think that the RN Party should have won, and that Marine Le Pen should be Prime Minister.
They are also of the opinion that we can expect an ‘’extended period of political limbo’’. This on the ‘’eve of a NATO summit’’! And a mere ‘’three weeks before the Paris Olympics’’! Now France is ‘’in chaos’’!
The press is correct in referring to the situation in France as ‘’chaotic’’, that there is ‘’deep discontent’’. Numerous demonstrations are taking place, with Palestinian flags being waved. Far more so than French flags! Then there are the red flags, which may stand for revolution. As well, there are signs which openly call for ‘’revolution’’.
As yet, there are no signs or slogans which contain class content. It is clear that the French proletariat is not yet class conscious.
The streets of France have been described as a ‘’war zone’’, with ‘’wide spread riots’’. ‘’Left’’ and ‘’Right’’ supporters are clashing, with masked demonstrators running through the streets, lighting flares and fighting with police. There have even been reports of the use of ‘’Molotov Cocktails’’, flaming bottles of gasoline being thrown. If true, then that is an indication of a full blown revolution.
The journalists are also correct, when they say that the ‘’political instability’’ within the country, can ‘’have an impact outside the country’’, as France ‘’plays a key role on the European and global stage’’. A revolution in France, is almost certain to spread to neighbouring countries!
Without doubt, it is not just in America that the ‘’ruling class can no longer rule in the old way’’, and has to ‘’change their method of rule’’. It is also true in France. As well, the ‘’lower classes’’, within France, are no longer ‘’content to be ruled in the old way’’. In both countries, conditions are set for a successful socialist revolution.
It is also a fact that the country suffers from the lack of a true Communist Party, one which calls for Council Power, and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The French Communist Party is Communist in name only.
The advice given, in my previous article, applies also to the French proletariat, so there is no need to repeat it here.
The French revolution is bound to spread to neighbouring countries, in Europe and possibly beyond. As well, the American revolution is bound to spread across North America, and possibly beyond. Truly, the world socialist revolution, as foreseen by Lenin, is within sight.
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 