President Emmanuel Macron surprised the nation by announcing the dissolution of France’s lower house of parliament following a significant defeat suffered by his party at the hands of the far-right in the European elections on Sunday.
Voters will head to the polls in the coming weeks for legislative elections scheduled in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.
Initial projections from France indicate a notable lead for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party, securing an estimated 31%-32% of the votes, more than double that of Macron’s Renaissance party, projected to garner around 15%.
While Macron himself was not a candidate in the EU elections, his term as president continues for three more years.
In response to the outcome, Macron emphasized his faith in democracy, stating, “I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered.”
However, his decision to dissolve the National Assembly carries risks, potentially paving the way for a power shift that could see Le Pen’s party gaining more influence.
Le Pen welcomed the move, expressing readiness to exercise power if elected in the upcoming legislative elections.
The EU election results dealt a harsh blow to Macron’s pro-European agenda, with the National Rally advocating for tighter immigration controls and a reevaluation of EU climate regulations.
The Socialist Party also saw a resurgence in the EU elections, securing approximately 14% of the votes, focusing on ambitious climate policies and economic protections.
Reacting to Macron’s announcement, far-left politician Francois Ruffin called for unity among leftist leaders to form a “Popular Front.”
France is set to elect 81 members of the European Parliament out of a total of 720 seats.
