Macron Calls For New Elections After Far-Right Victory

Far-right National Rally lead candidate Jordan Bardella delivers a speech at the party election night headquarters, Sunday, June 9, 2024 in Paris. First projected results from France put far-right Nat

French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to dissolve the lower house of the parliament and call for new general elections following a significant defeat by the far-right in the European elections. The parliamentary election is scheduled to take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.

Macron's pro-European centrists suffered a humbling loss as the far-right National Rally party emerged well ahead in the European Union's parliamentary election, with Marine Le Pen's party estimated to receive around 31-32% of the votes, more than double the share of Macron's Renaissance party, which is projected to reach around 15%.

New general elections scheduled for June 30 and July 7.

Macron dissolved parliament after far-right victory in EU elections.

Far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen emerged ahead.

Macron's Renaissance party projected to receive around 15% of votes.

Having lost his majority at the National Assembly in 2022, Macron's decision to dissolve the parliament is seen as a risky move that could potentially bolster Le Pen's chances of assuming power. However, Macron expressed his confidence in democracy and the voice of the people, stating that he will address the concerns and messages conveyed by the electorate.

The initial results mark a setback for Macron, who has been advocating for stronger European defense efforts and industry support. The National Rally, led by Jordan Bardella, aims to limit the free movement of migrants, implement national border controls, and scale back EU climate regulations while working to weaken the EU from within.

Aside from the far-right victory, there was also a resurgence of the center-left Socialist Party, which secured about 14% of the votes by campaigning on ambitious climate policies and enhanced protections for European businesses and workers.

France is electing 81 members of the European Parliament, which has a total of 720 seats. The National Rally, which has been the leading party in the past two EU elections, saw a substantial increase in its vote share compared to 2019, when it narrowly edged out Macron's party by just one point.

Macron's decision to call for new general elections reflects the shifting political landscape in France and the growing influence of far-right and center-left parties in the European elections.