Macron’s Rivals Say They’ll Fix France’s Economy, but Economists Are Skeptical

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One of the messages that helped propel the far-right National Rally to the brink of power in France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday — a once-unthinkable shift — is a common refrain in U.S. politics: It’s the economy, stupid. Both the National Rally and a coalition of left-wing parties called New Popular Front won large gains in part by tapping into anger over a cost-of-living crisis and a sense that President Emmanuel Macron had grown out of touch and did not understand their struggles. Voting happens in two rounds, and candidates who reached certain thresholds will move on to the next round on Sunday. A two-year streak of high inflation has left low- and middle-income French families grappling to pay for basics like energy, gas and food, while wages, in some cases, have failed to keep pace. Polls show that worries over “purchasing power” were a top concern of voters, alongside immigration and security. Blue-collar workers turned out in droves to vote for the National Rally, which is promising to aid households and curb immigration. The New Popular Front came in second with promises to raise wages and lower the retirement age.