HOTSPOT

A broad left coalition called the New Popular Front thwarted what many in the French media and political chattering classes thought was a certain far-right victory in last weekend’s second-round of voting in France.

It was a sensational triumph by leftists, who again showed they are the most committed and most organized anti-fascist force that people could rely on. Moreover, their common platform may be the antidote to the fury of voters against the devastating and life-sapping economic program summarized as “austerity” under the current French president and the racist and anti-immigrant poison offered by the far-right party National Rally.

It was thus no surprise that the release of the exit poll showing NPF’s stunning first place finish ignited celebrations in the streets of Paris. I saw on livestreams tens of thousands of French people gathering in places I had visited in 2016 as a guest of the French foreign ministry under the Future Leaders Invitation Programme.

If in 2016 the French foreign ministry staff were quite curious about the rise of Rodrigo Duterte, I think it is fair to say now that we are interested to know what’s the official take about the rise and (hopefully) demise of the National Rally in the hands of the NPF. Had the National Rally scored a second-round victory, France would be known for fashion — and fascism. Big thanks really to the French leftists, socialists, communists, Greens and other anti-fascists who coalesced and thus gained the admiration (and preference) of the voters.

In the British elections, the electorate of Islington North returned Jeremy Corbyn to Parliament. The icon of British leftist politics was predicted to lose to an official candidate of the Labour Party which he once led. It would have been a major story had Corbyn been beaten in the polls, with the media pronouncing it as the burial of Labour’s left-wing faction.

Subsequent media reports however showed widespread support for Corbyn in his constituency and beyond. They returned his 40 years of service and activism by giving Corbyn a lead of more than 7,000 votes over the Labour candidate handpicked by Keir Starmer.

The election victories of leftists and progressives in France and also in Britain give people everywhere a dose of hope amid the gloom. They showed that the left remains a potent political force and carry compelling alternatives to either liberalism or fascism.

This week too, the country’s Makabayan coalition announced that it would be fielding a complete senatorial slate for 2025. I think this is Makabayan’s response to people’s hunger for extraordinary leadership amid extraordinary circumstances in politics, economics, foreign affairs, and our daily lives.
Makabayan can easily produce and offer 12 senatoriables to voters. Since 2001, voters have elected Makabayan partylists to Congress. Many are often happy to see Makabayan lawmakers doing the good work in Batasan, including speaking truth to power.

Aside from the former lawmakers, Makabayan can also tap mass leaders from people’s organizations.

Whether they would have a fighting chance in the face of traditional politicians, political dynasties, incumbents, returning senators, and the political donor class, we do not know. True, Makabayan had fielded Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teddy Casino, Neri Colmenares and Elmer Labog in the past elections, with all of them losing.

With a complete slate in 2025, maybe voters would reward Makabayan for trying?

Would Makabayan learn from the lessons of previous senatorial candidacies, and from other parties and coalitions abroad? What lessons could they take from successful senatorial candidates? How would Makabayan handle election-time red-tagging and disinformation?

Whether administration, opposition or fake opposition, the major parties all say they are fielding only a few senatoriables or incomplete slates. They find no need to waste time and resources for losing candidates. One way to look at it is that the major parties may have already made an informal traditional political alliance to ensure the victory of their 12 common candidates. Everyone wins, so to speak.

But these are extraordinary times. People hope to see extraordinary leaders and extraordinary solutions. Makabayan has nothing to lose by fielding a complete senatorial slate. It shows a readiness to serve, daring, and a leadership bench deep enough to produce 12 potential senators who people could trust and rely on in these trying times. Whether voters would defy red-tagging and finally elect Makabayan senators to bring change the Senate, we would soon find out.

Yes, there’s an alternative and it is viable, practical, necessary and complete.