Paris, June 17 (RHC)-- In France, leftist parties announced a new alliance ahead of snap elections later this month. 

French President Emmanuel Macron called the surprise June 30 vote after suffering a major defeat to the far-right National Rally at the EU elections. 

Leaders of the newly formed New Popular Front joined mass protests against the rise of the far right in Paris Saturday, vowing a complete break with Macron’s policies.

One organizer, Mathilde Panot, told reporters: “Popular mobilization is the key to fight against the extreme right and to beat the extreme right.  We say regularly that the European elections marked the 'after-Macron' period.”