Experts say the anti-far-right bulwark has safeguarded the European bloc from a political shock.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00A sigh of relief in Brussels. The far right did not sweep to power in the French legislative
00:07elections. The presidential party of Emmanuel Macron has avoided humiliation by finishing
00:13in second place. It means relative stability for the European Union. While Macron could
00:18still face political chaos at home, analysts say he should be able to retain his influence
00:24in Brussels.
00:25The left wing new popular front pulled off a shock victory and says it now should be
00:48able to nominate a prime minister. Certain aspects of its programme, such as lowering
00:53retirement age to 60 and increasing the minimum wage to €1,600 a month, worry some in Brussels.
01:00The measures could run counter to European treaties which limit a member state's public
01:04deficit to 3% of its gross domestic product.
01:35The left wing new popular front includes parties from across the left side of the political
01:40spectrum. They will need to consolidate their position on support for Ukraine if they are
01:45to govern, analysts say.
02:04Kyiv will likely look to November's US presidential election and a potential Trump return as a
02:33bigger threat to its military aid from the West.