Macron calls snap elections after right-wing victory in EU polls
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Macron revealed that the first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly is slated for June 30, followed by the second round on July 7.
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Lawmakers gather at the National Assembly, Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Paris. (AP)
In response to the resounding victory of right-wing parties in the EU elections, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday his decision to dissolve parliament and called for snap legislative elections.
Addressing the nation, Macron revealed that the first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly is slated for June 30, followed by the second round on July 7.
He characterized the outcome of the EU elections as unfavorable for parties advocating for Europe, acknowledging that right-wing parties secured nearly 40 percent of the vote in France.
"Far right parties... are progressing everywhere in the continent. It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself," he said.
"I decided to give you the choice... Therefore I will dissolve the National Assembly tonight."
"This decision is serious and heavy but it is an act of confidence. Confidence in you, dear compatriots, and in the capacity of the French people to make the best choice for itself and future generations," he added.
Read more: EU voters cast ballots on final day of marathon elections
The National Rally (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, emerged as the top-performing party in the EU elections, securing between 32.3 and 33 percent of the vote, compared to Macron's alliance, which garnered 14.8 to 15.2 percent, according to projections from multiple polling firms.
Macron's warning earlier in the week about the potential obstruction posed by a significant right-wing presence in the European Parliament underscored the gravity of the situation.
Moreover, the EU election results signal a critical juncture as attention shifts towards France's upcoming presidential vote in 2027.
Ineligible to stand for re-election, Macron faces a political landscape where Marine Le Pen, the figurehead of the RN, believes she stands her best-ever chance of clinching victory at the Elysee Palace.
Read more: European Parliament elections: Political landscape, key players
Last month, Spain's environment minister, Teresa Ribera, warned that the European Union's future is in danger due to individuals "who exploit social tensions for immediate political advantage." She emphasized that the European project faces the risk of "implosion" ahead of the upcoming European parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, a shift in politics in Europe has created a scare for mainstream parties as more pro-Palestine supporters are gearing more toward left-leaning parties with a more vocal pro-Palestine stance.
Blandine Chelini-Pont, a historian at Aix-Marseille University, said that far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) is seeking to ban arms and impose sanctions on "Israel" while recognizing a Palestinian state, as well as refrain from calling the Palestinian Resistance Hamas a "terrorist group", thus attracting Muslim and radical-left voters.
LFI lawmaker Sebastien Delogu told Reuters, "Some will say we are surfing on an electorate but who are we speaking about? These are citizens of this country who do not have a racist vision of society."
