PARIS: In a shock move, French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he would dissolve parliament and call new legislative elections later this month after he was trounced in European elections by Marine Le Pen’s far-right party.
Macron said the results were a disaster for his government, and one he could not pretend to ignore. In a high-risk political gamble, less than two months before Paris hosts the Olympics, he said lower house elections would be called for June 30, with a second-round vote on July 7.
Exit polls showed Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, won around 32% of the vote, more than double the Macron ticket’s 15%, while the Socialists came within a whisker of Macron, with 14%.
Macron’s camp lacks an absolute majority in the French lower house of parliament.
The widely unexpected decision could leave him in a nearly powerless position if Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party wins a parliamentary majority.
“This is an essential time for clarification,” Macron said. “I have heard your message, your concerns and I will not leave them unanswered … France needs a clear majority to act in serenity and harmony.”
Marine Le pen welcomed Macron’s decision. “We are ready to take over the power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections,” she said at a rally Sunday.
BREAKING: Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration nationalist party has just trounced Emmanuel Macron’s party in the French EU Elections, winning 34% of the vote.
The French people are sick and tired of Open Borders! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/yn7IA5gGzZ
— Cillian (@CilComLFC) June 9, 2024
Earlier on Sunday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, one of the most senior allies of President said the EU election result was a defeat for the president and his government.
“Today we have to question ourselves and also explain to the French why we weren’t able to listen to them enough,” Darmanin told TF1 TV channel.
Separately, Eric Ciotti, the head of France’s conservative Republicans party on Sunday said he would ‘never’ strike a political alliance with President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party.
(REUTERS)
