Jacobin Radio: Surprise Elections in France & Britain w/ Sebastian Budgen

Jacobin Radio

Jacobin

Socialism, History, News, Left, Jacobin, Alternative, Socialist, Politics

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🗓️ 27 June 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

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Summary

Sebastian Budgen, Editorial Director of Verso Books, splits his time between London and Paris. He joins us to discuss the surprising elections called in each country.

In the UK, Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4 at what seems like the worst time for Tory rule. And across the pond, Emmanuel Macron called a snap election in France for June 30 and July 7 after Marine Le Pen’s far right Rassemblement National swept the European elections on June 9. He didn’t have to do it, any more than Sunak did, though Macron’s government isn’t teetering like Sunak’s.

Why now? Conventional wisdom holds that Macron called the election after the right trounced the center in the European elections because he was certain the divisions in the left would make him the rational choice, apparently betting that the center can hold. But the left responded to this new reality, getting its act together and forming a New Popular Front consisting of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Insoumise, the Parti Socialiste, the Greens, and the Communist Party. According to the NYT on June 21, the new coalition is increasingly well-positioned to form a new government that could weaken Macron’s grip on power.

In the UK, PM Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4 at a terrible time for his government. Whereas Macron is unpopular, Sunak’s Tories are falling apart after fourteen years in power. What’s behind both these elections? What are the possible outcomes? To get a deeper analysis and perspective, we turn to Sebastian Budgen in Paris.

Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Jacobin Radio. I'm your host, Susie Wiseman. There are two surprising
0:17.9	elections that have been called in Europe. In the UK, Rishi Sunat called the
0:22.0	general election for July 4th at what seems like the worst time for Tory rule.
0:27.6	And across the pond, the far right gained in the European parliamentary elections, moving in Manuel Macron to call a snap election
0:35.5	in France that will be held on June 30th for the first round and July 7th for the second.
0:40.8	He didn't have to do it, any than Sunak did, though McCone's government isn't teetering like Sunak's.
0:47.0	But what's behind these elections and what are the possible outcomes?
0:50.0	And why now?
0:52.0	To get a deeper analysis and perspective, we turn to Sebastian Budjun in Paris
0:56.5	when our program returns in just a moment. Welcome to Jacobin Radio. I'm your host, Susie Wiseman.
1:07.0	After the strong showing for the far right in the European parliamentary elections on June 9th,
1:16.0	specifically, Marine Le Penz Rassamblo National,
1:20.0	Emmanuel Macron surprisingly called a snap election in France for June 30 and July 7th.
1:26.7	It's been called an earthquake in French politics.
1:30.0	What's behind this seemingly very gutsy, even crazy move?
1:33.9	Conventional wisdom has it that after the right
1:36.4	tramps the center in the European elections,
1:39.2	Mahon called the election because he was certain
1:41.4	the divisions in the left would make him the rational choice,
1:44.3	apparently betting that the center can hold. But the left has responded to this new reality by getting
1:50.0	its act together and forming a new popular front consisting of Jean-Louac-Mélinchaun's France-E-Soumise, the Socialist Party, the Greens, and the Communist Party.
2:00.0	It is increasingly positioned to form a new government according to the New York Times on June 21st that could weaken Macron's grip on power.
	...

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