French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for a snap legislative election following a significant setback for his party in the European Parliament elections.
Addressing the nation from the Elysee presidential palace on Sunday, Macron expressed concern over the rise of far-right parties across the continent, stating, “Far-right parties… are progressing everywhere in the continent. It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself.”
Macron highlighted the strong performance of far-right parties in France, particularly the National Rally, which secured nearly 40 percent of the vote in the EU elections.
“I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly,” Macron declared.
The snap election will be conducted in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, he announced.
The decision comes in the wake of initial projections from French opinion poll institutes placing the RN party well ahead in the EU parliamentary elections, surpassing Macron’s pro-European centrists.
Led by Jordan Bardella, the RN’s list garnered between 32.3 and 33 percent of the vote, while Macron’s Renaissance party alliance received 14.8 to 15.2 percent, according to polling firms’ projections.
Macron had previously cautioned about the potential consequences of a significant far-right presence in the European Parliament, warning of potential “blockage” in EU affairs.
The election results also signal a pivotal moment as attention shifts to France’s 2027 presidential elections, where Macron is ineligible to run again. RN leader Marine Le Pen sees this as an opportunity to enhance her chances of securing victory in the Elysee Palace.
