For those who see unity as the path forward for France’s badly divided left, the northern region of Hauts-de-France may provide a glimmer of hope. Despite their many differences on the national level, the country’s biggest left-wing parties — La France Insoumise (LFI), Europe Ecology – the Greens (EELV), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Socialist Party (PS), as well as the smaller formations Génération.s. and Place Publique — are joining forces for the regional elections this June.

Above all, the alliance is driven by survival instinct. Party leaders share a sense that without presenting a united front in the first round on June 13, they’ll be knocked out of contention for the second round on June 20. Under election rules, each ticket earning more than 10 percent qualifies for the runoff round — which, in this region, is all but certain to involve the right-wing Les Républicains (LR) and the National Rally (RN).

“We’ve become aware of our responsibilities,” Karima Delli, the Green candidate heading the unity coalition who also serves as a member of European Parliament, tells Jacobin. “We don’t want this lethal scenario between the right and the far-right, and so we’re saying stop to the downward spiral in our region.”