The French far left has lessons for how to defeat the far right | Sophie Binet

All over the world, the far right comes to power through an alliance with the right and part of the business community

In the recent elections in France, the far right loomed on the precipice of power. The only thing that stopped them from winning was the mobilisation of the far left. The far right was defeated, and the centrist Emmanuel Macron lost 70 MPs. The left, meanwhile, came out on top.

This victory is the fruit of the broad mobilisation of trade unions and citizens. The main French trade unions put all their strength into the battle, called for the construction of a Popular Front and, with the majority of the French trade union organisations, raised a call to protest and vote against the extreme right.