PARIS, France: French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of parliament on Sunday and called for snap legislative elections after his centrist alliance suffered a significant defeat to the far-right in the EU polls. The first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly will be held on June 30, followed by the second round on July 7, Macron declared in a national address.
Macron made the decision to dissolve the National Assembly in reaction to the election results, giving the French people more autonomy over their future course. He declared, “This is a serious and important decision, but it reflects my confidence in you, dear compatriots, and in the French people’s ability to make the best decision for themselves and future generations.”
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right RN, welcomed Macron’s decision. “We are ready to assume power if the French place their trust in us in the upcoming national elections,” she asserted during a rally. The RN’s list, led by Jordan Bardella, garnered between 32.3 and 33 percent of the vote, compared to the 14.8 to 15.2 percent for Macron’s Renaissance party alliance, according to projections by several polling firms.
Macron warned that the EU could face significant challenges if the far-right presence in the European Parliament continues to grow. The results of these elections set the stage for France’s 2027 presidential race, where Macron will be ineligible to run, and Marine Le Pen sees an opportunity to achieve her long-sought goal of winning the presidency.
