The Socialist Party (PS) of France finalized a deal with the party of the radical left «France Insurgent» (LFI) to form an alliance in the June parliamentary elections in order to deprive the French president of the Emmanuel Macron the majority in parliament.
«From now on we will campaign together,» said Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, after the party's National Committee approved late Thursday the agreement announced by negotiators from both parties on Wednesday.
The LFI has already concluded similar agreements with the Greens and the Communists, creating a united front under the leadership of LFI leader Jean-Luc Melanson.
Mélenchon has said he wants to be prime minister in the next government and hopes to prevent Macron from gaining a majority in parliament in the June 12-19 elections and preventing the implementation of his pro-business programme.
Macron won the second round of France's presidential election in late April, securing a second term in office, but he will need a majority of seats in parliament to pass the reforms he wants, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 65, which is opposed by both left and right-wing parties.
Mélenchon came third in the presidential election, garnering around 22% of votes in the first round, behind far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The Socialist candidate Anne Indalgo garnered just 1.7% of the vote.
