Left Front (France)

The Left Front (Front de gauche) is a French electoral coalition created for the 2009 European elections composed primarily of the French Communist Party, the Left Party and the Unitarian Left. The alliance was extended for the 2010 regional elections and the 2012 presidential election.

The Workers' Communist Party of France and other smaller political movements joined the party during the 2010 regional elections.

Program
For the European elections, the Left Front (formerly The Left Front to change of Europe, Front de Gauche pour changer d'Europe) proposed:
 * to forbid lay-offs for the companies which make profits
 * to protect and improve public services
 * to fight for new rights for workers and the unemployed
 * to protect the planet
 * to abandon the Treaty of Lisbon

Main Candidates

 * East: Hélène Franco (PG)
 * Île-de-France: Patrick Le Hyaric (PCF)
 * Massif Central: Marie-France Beaufils (PCF)
 * North-West: Jacky Henin (PCF)
 * Overseas: None
 * South-East: Marie-Christine Vergiat
 * South-West: Jean-Luc Mélenchon (PG)
 * West: Jacques Généreux (PG)

Results
The Left Front and the Alliance of the Overseas won a combined 6.47% of the vote, improving by 0.59% on the PCF's 2004 result. In all, they elected 5 MEPs:


 * East: 3.89% (no MEPs)
 * Île-de-France: 6.32% (Patrick Le Hyaric)
 * Massif Central: 8.07% (no MEPs)
 * North-West: 6.84% (Jacky Henin)
 * Overseas: 21.01% (Élie Hoarau, Alliance of the Overseas)
 * South-East: 5.90% (Marie-Christine Vergiat)
 * South-West: 8.15% (Jean-Luc Mélenchon)
 * West: 4.58% (no MEPs)

2010 Regional elections
The French Communist Party (PCF) finally opted to continue the Left Front with the Left Party (PG), first tested in the 2009 European elections. These lists would be independent in the first round, but would support (or merge) with a Socialist-led list in the runoff on the condition that the centrist MoDem doesn't do likewise. Yet, the final decision on the matter was transferred to the regional party members. In 17 of 22 regions, members approved the decision of an expanded Left Front; but in five regions, PCF members opted for a first-round alliance with the PS. These regions are Burgundy, Champagne-Ardennes, Lorraine, Lower Normandy and Brittany. In these regions, however, dissident Communists have joined with Olivier Besancenot's New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) and the PG to create independent lists by the first round.

In three regions - Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin and Pays-de-la-Loire, the Left Front's lists were supported by the NPA.

The Left Front obtained 1,137,250 votes (5.84% or 6.95% if we take only the regions where the Left Front presented an independent list) but only 125 seats in regional councils (the communists had obtained 185 seats in 2004 when they were allied with the socialists).