Jacobin Radio Long Reads: Decoding the French Left w/ Sebastian Budgen (Part 1)
Apr 9, 2026
Sebastian Budgen, senior editor at Verso Books and commentator on French politics. He unpacks the New Popular Front’s surprise parliamentary win. He explains La France Insoumise’s role in coalition gains and its unconventional, ‘gaseous’ organization. He assesses party splits, strategic deals by Socialists, and how LFI’s programmatic approach differs from other European left movements.
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LFI Made The Electoral Win Possible
- La France Insoumise (LFI) enabled the New Popular Front's surprising 2024 success by accepting seat distribution to allies.
- LFI sacrificed seats to boost the Socialist Party, Greens, and PCF, making their parliamentary gains disproportionate to prior vote shares.
LFI Turned To Hard Opposition After Macron's Refusal
- After the election, LFI hardened into full opposition when Macron refused to appoint a prime minister from the NFP.
- LFI framed Macron's refusal as undemocratic and pushed for sustained opposition rather than compromise or accommodation.
Socialists Moved From Opposition To Negotiation
- The Socialist Party shifted from oppositional votes to negotiating with the government, eventually supporting Macron's appointed prime minister.
- Their main concession was suspending the pension reform rather than abolishing it, illustrating a softer, pact-seeking strategy.