French Election Latest News: France faces 'three major risks' – Macron asks PM to reconsider

France’s left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) – an alliance of parties hastily thrown together after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election – has emerged as the dominant force.

The NFP is made up of the Communist Party, the far-left France Insoumise, the Green Party and the Socialist Party.

Here we look at the key figures of the alliance…

Jean-Luc Mélenchon – leader of the far-left France Insoumise

The 72-year-old has been active in French left-wing politics for decades and held ministerial positions in previous governments when he was a member of the Socialist Party.

He ran for president in 2012, 2017 and 2022, when he came third, just behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen (Mr Macron won that election).

Mr Mélenchon said the president had a duty to call on the left-wing alliance to govern.

Marine Tondelier – leader of the Greens

Ms Tondelier, 37, has long been opposed to the National Rally (RN).

She grew up in Hénin-Beaumont, a town in northern France known as an RN stronghold, and was elected as an opposition member of the town’s municipal council in 2014.

She documented her experiences working under an RN mayor in a 2017 book called News from the Front.

Ms Tondelier was also elected to the Nord regional council in 2021 and the following year became leader of France’s best-known environmentalist party, the Greens.

Raphaël Glucksmann – Socialist Party

Mr Glucksmann, 44, headed the Socialist list of candidates for the European elections in early June.

He attended prestigious schools and had a career in journalism and broadcasting before branching out into various directions, including as an adviser to then-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

He advocates strong European support for Ukraine in its resistance against Russian invasion.

Laurent Berger – former Secretary General of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT)

The 55-year-old is a former leader of one of France’s main unions, the moderate CFDT.

He has a history of strong opposition to the RN.

Mr Berger has said he does not want to be prime minister, but other left-wing figures have put his name forward.