So we're speaking a couple of weeks out from the French legislative elections, which will decide the composition of the National Assembly, the French Parliament.

And in those elections, voters will be able to vote for a new left-wing coalition, the Nouvelle Union Popular Ecologic, a Social, led by Jean-Luc Melanchon and his party La France in Somes, but also comprising the Communist Party, the Greens and a number of other smaller socialist and ecological parties.

Most significantly of all, of course, the French Socialist Party has also agreed to become part of the coalition against the opposition of major figures in the party.

Now, in the 2017 presidential election, La France in Somers did quite well, but then failed to build upon that success in the legislative elections.

But it now looks as though, although the coalition may not win a majority, they look well placed to become the main opposition for the duration of Macron's second term in office.

Before we come on to the election itself, could you talk a little bit about the emergence

of the new coalition and what we know about the negotiations that led to its emergence?

As you said, there's something of a contrast to the 2017 elections where Ménanchin did

well, but there was a perception that the fact that he ultimately didn't get through the second round

and the fact that it was a runoff between Macron and a pen,

there was a perception that he was kind of sulking, if you like,

and was very disappointed and unhappy with the result

and didn't give a clear lead to where to go next.

The contrast with this year was quite remarkable because he pulled off two, I think,

tactically brilliant moves.

The first, I mean, he took a week off first to do some gardening and catch up on sleep.

But when he came back, he went on one for the news TV shows 24-hour TV shows

and did an interview where his his pitch was elect me as your prime minister

and it national as your prime minister now obviously that was that was particularly

striking because you know a you don don't elect prime minister in France.

Prime Minister is appointed by the president from the majority, parliamentary majority.

But, you know, it's a very effective way of saying, you know, I'm still in the game.

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