France's Leftist Coalition

 

A coalition of leftist parties was able to stop a right-wing victory in France's parliamentary elections. The representative body remains fractured. No single party won a majority. There are demands to form a government. Three major political factions are fight for power. The New Popular Front is the leftist coalition becoming a popular political force. The National Rally represents the conservative and far-right elements of French politics. The centrists who are mostly allied to President Emmanuel Macron expected to gain a majority. This was an error on President Macron's part. Calling for elections with the domestic and wider problems in Europe was not a calculated decision. The bigger question is if  La France Insoumise, Greens, and Socialists can actually govern. Political factionalism is on the rise in France. The objective should not be solely to oppose the far-right. New policies must be implemented related to labor, pensions, and foreign policy. President Emmanuel Macron seems hesitant to allow a new prime minister to be head of government. This procrastination is related to being displeased about election results. President Macron has three years left in his presidential term. The new members of parliament will make if difficult for him if he does not negotiate . The National Assembly can block legislation. The challenge is keeping the leftist coalition together. Making an attempt to capture 289 seats must be a long term goal. Leftists do seek alliances and solidarity with other groups. However, France Insoumise needs to be powerful enough that it will not require other parties. 

Senegal's Presidential Election Postponed

 

Senegal's presential election has been postponed. President Macky Sall stated the reason for the decision was related to the list of candidates. The dispute arose from the actions of the Constitutional Council . They excluded a number of opposition candidates. The legality of this is brought into question. While there are some qualifications candidates have to meet to run for office, it appears these actions are designed to favor President Macky Sall. Having free and fair elections is not possible, if citizens are not given options. The Senegalese Democratic Party did request the election to be postponed, so they could get Karim Wade to run. Wade was an opposition figure that was excluded. The PASTEF Party is the most vocal critic of the postponement of the presidential election. President Macky Sall expressed that he has no desire to run for a third term. The address to the public did not make mention what the new date for the  presidential election would be. President Macky Sall might be attempting to extend his term by extralegal means. Senegal currently has 20 candidates running for the office of president. There could be those who conspire to reduce competition by postponing the election. The announcement caused demonstrations to break out . Dakar is seeing a growing number of protests by Senegalese who feel the government is becoming quasi-authoritarian. Senegal's stable democratic structure shielded it from the turbulence of its neighbors. Depending of the actions of President Macky Sall, ECOWAS could get involved. The West African region is going through political transformation. Senegal is just one country undergoing change.    

President Zelensky Wants To Halt Elections

 

The crackdown on internal dissent continues in Ukraine. President Volodymtr Zelensky wants to have elections halted. This includes the parliamentary elections and the presidential elections scheduled for next year. So far no EU country has made a statement about the plan. President Zelensky justifies the action saying conditions are not stable for elections. He explained further as long as martial law is in place the decision will remain. Ukrainians should have a right to select their leaders . These actions show the development of an authoritarian political structure. The warning signs first came with the attacks on the press. As the Russia-Ukraine War continues the chances of a Ukrainian victory become less possible. The counteroffensive has not push Russia back to its borders. The Wagner Group incident did not spark a massive rebellion or coup. The events in Bakmut show that using mercenaries creates complications in warfare. President Zelensky stated that what he is doing is within the parameters of the Ukrainian constitution. The political opposition might have a legal argument to challenge halting elections. What some observe is this is a way for President Zelensky to remain in power. Winning an election would be difficult considering the military defeats. The UK, France, and Germany are going to support Zelensky no matter how anti-democratic the administration gets. For those countries causing a Russian defeat is more important than the welfare of Ukrainians. Peace talks become more out of reach with every passing month. If elections are not held this marks the start of an authoritarian regime. The silence of the European Union exposes the contradictory and corrupt nature of their foreign policy.   

The French Presidential Election Results

 

Emmanuel Macron won re-election as France's president. The results showed Marcon  getting 58.5 % of the vote and Marine Le Pen gained 41.5 %. The polling numbers suggests the country remains divided. One section favors the European Union and political centrism. Marine Le Pen and  the National Rally Party are advocates ethnocentric nationalism and far-right politics. France has been questioning the nature of the NATO alliance and grappling with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. No candidate won a majority in the first round, which was the reason for the run-off election. The French are experiencing major discord, which its leaders are not addressing. Economic challenges and concerns surrounding immigration are issues that are part of the French political consciousness. Now that President Macron has a second term questions remain about La Republique En Marche ! ability to reach out to the citizens frustrated with current conditions. Macron's party is supportive of  economic liberalism, globalization, and a pan-European political vision. Certain policies related to these beliefs do not benefit the population as a whole. When Emmanuel Macron won the 2017 election he got 66.10% of the vote. Marine Le Pen received 33.90% of the vote. Le Pen improved while Macron saw a decrease. The far-right is gaining momentum, due to the inadequacies of political centrism. Having a genuine leftist political party can counter the rise xenophobic nativist nationalism. La Republique En Marche! must change tactics to remain relevant and attract voters. Otherwise, voters will gravitate to more extreme political movements.   

President Trump Refuses To Acknowledge Election Results

 

President Donald Trump has made multiple accusations  of electoral fraud in the 2020 elections. There were irregularities due to a postal service under attack by the administration itself . Voter suppression and the possibility  of lost ballots demonstrate the American political structure was in decline before Trump was elected in 2016. What President Trump is seeking to do is to undo the election results through the courts. The lawsuits  have not been successful and the alarm about a "Trump coup" appears to be an exaggeration. The only way a Trump coup could happen is if the entire military and law enforcement apparatus was willing to prevent Biden from being sworn in. The Trump presidency is nearing its end, however the political transformation continues in America. Trumpism has not been defeated and could remain a possible threat to attempts for change. The Democratic Party has to perform at its highest level and adopt a more leftist agenda to thwart this movement. The real fear rather than a Trump coup, could be Trump attempting to run again in 2024. Expectations are high from the public and if certain demands are not met another a more dangerous extremist could get elected. Rumors continue to circulate that President Trump may not leave office, but this has not been confirmed. The transition of power will happen. The real challenge  is what happens afterwards.