The NUPES (New Popular Ecological and Social Union) A historic alliance in France for the 2022 legislative elections.

On May 2, 2022, an union brings together several popular left wing parties and ecological parties such as the Europe Ecologie-les Verts (EELV), the France Insoumises party (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS) and the Communist party (PC). The new coalition, called The NUPES, aims to ensure the victory of the left during the legislative on June 12 and 19, 2022 and imposes a political cohabitation with Emmanuel Macron. 

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the France Insoumise party, won 22% of the vote during the previous presidential election. His electorate was largely a young population who are concerned about the environment. The new-coalition, called the NUPES, centered mainly on ecological issues, became the new popular union of youth. 

IS THE NUPES A HOPE FOR POLITICAL ECOLOGY? 

In the current climate of anxiety, the UNITED NATIONS warns that we have only 3 years left to act before climate consequences are inevitable. Does this union become a hope for our planet? Is it the beginning of real change? Is it really about ecology?

Ecology is the second chapter of the NUPES program. It includes in principle 650 ecological measures, some of them still to be determined. Whether it is for the protection of biodiversity, the nuclear future, the objective of reducing greenhouse gases or the fight against pollution, this new alliance proposes strategies for a rapid change of the current system. Some subjects remain in disagreement concerning the future of ecology in France: the nuclear transition, hunting, and agriculture. These disagreements are threatening, by slowing down or even blocking the application of new ecological laws.

If the left wins the legislative elections, it will be time for strong ecological planning. The legislative elections may become a major platform for urgent changes. 

In a press release, the ecological party EELV affirmed that the new alliance will defend together;

“the implementation of a real ecological planning by the application of a green rule to answer the climatic and environmental emergency” (Translation from French).

BUT WHAT IS THIS GREEN RULE PROPOSED BY THE NUPES?

The Green Rule is one of the foundations of the NUPES green program. The motto of the green rule is;

“not to take more from nature than it is able to give back to us” (Translation from French)

said Aurélie Trouvé, an anti-globalization activist in an interview with EURACTIV.

Mélenchon himself explained in a press release that the time was ripe for green power. It is necessary today to;

“coincide the rhythms of our production, our exchanges and our consumption with the rhythms of nature itself.” (Translation from French)

Through a series of bullet points and a massive investment plan amounting to 200 billion euros, the application of the green rule seems utopian and unattainable.

The former president of the republic François Hollande warned during a public meeting in Corrèze about the Nupes Program;

“The program of the Nupes is unable to be executed”.

In case of victory, the Nupes will face reality mainly in terms of unattainable expenses.

When the program is analyzed more closely, it appears more like a smoke screen. The real goal of this union is to attract young voters, concerned about the consequences of greenwashing by Macron’s government. Politicians divert environmental and climate issues to their advantages. Macron did it during its campaign, and the NUPES is doing it for the 2022 legislative.

LOOPHOLES IN THE GREEN RULE

The “green rule” is nothing more than an extension of the law n°2017-399 on the duty of vigilance.

This law imposes “on paper” the prevention of serious human rights and environmental violations by large transnational companies. Unsurprisingly, this does not prevent these groups from destroying more and more of the environment. Especially since this rule only makes sense if it were applied at the level of the entire planet, which is not the case today.

WHAT ABOUT THE FIRST RESULTS OF THE NUPES DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS?

As expected, the NUPES made a spectacular breakthrough in the first round of the French legislative elections. Their objective was partly achieved: the left-wing coalition reached the same level as the Macronist clan (25.2% for NUPES and 25.8 for Macron’s party, ENSEMBLE). 

By uniting behind the NUPES, the ecologists were also able to make their convictions heard. Many of them won easily in the first round of the legislative elections such as Julien Bayou, the head of the Greens in the 8th district of Paris.

“THE NEXT GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE NOTHING ECOLOGICAL and THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE NOT TO RESPECT THE PARIS AGREEMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT” 

These are the words of Julien Bayou regarding the government of Macron. The leader of the party EELV announced on May 20, 2022, on FranceINFO that the NUPES would be the only alternative for real ecological progress in the years to come.