Macron's snap election risks political chaos: Ex-President Sarkozy
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Opinion polls indicate a challenging landscape for Macron's party, with National Rally leading at 35%, followed by the New Popular Front alliance on 26%, and Macron's Renaissance lagging behind at 19%.
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy looks on as he attends a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, as part of the commemorations marking the105th anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice, ending World War I, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Paris (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that Macron's decision to call snap elections could plunge France into "chaos, from which it will have the greatest difficulty emerging."
"'Giving the floor to the French people' to justify the dissolution is a curious argument since this is precisely what more than 25 million French people have just done at the polls," Sarkozy said, referring to Macron's decision.
"The risk is great [that] they confirm their anger rather than reverse it," he added.
French citizens are set to cast their votes in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, following Macron's surprise decision to call elections three years earlier than scheduled.
However, opinion polls, including one by IFOP, indicate a challenging landscape for Macron's party, with the National Rally leading at 35%, followed by the New Popular Front alliance on 26%, and Macron's Renaissance lagging behind at 19%.
Read more: Macron's snap elections could backfire against his alliance: FT
Former prime minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist, echoed Sarkozy's concerns, labeling Macron's decision "not responsible" and warning that it could empower the far-right National Rally to gain significant political influence.
Meanwhile, Socialist former president François Hollande announced his intention to run again for the national assembly in what he described as an "exceptional decision for an exceptional situation," adding: "I am not seeking anything for myself … I just want to be of service."
In response to the tumultuous political climate, Marine Le Pen of National Rally criticized what she called the "Islamo-leftist bloc" and expressed readiness for a potential cohabitation scenario if her party secures a strong electoral victory.
"I am respectful of institutions; I am not calling for institutional chaos. There will simply be a cohabitation," she said.
Read more: Quarter million protest in France against rise of far-right: Police
