French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday dissolved the National Assembly, the lower house of the country’s parliament, and called early elections for the end of this month. He made the move after his party was defeated in the European Parliament elections by the far-right National Union party, which supports Marine Le Pen.
Macron’s surprise decision will largely determine his political future three years before the end of his presidential term. If the “National Union” gets a parliamentary majority, then Macron will be significantly limited in solving domestic political issues.
The French president has said that the EU election results are bad news for his government and he cannot ignore them. In an address to the country, he said that elections to the lower house of the parliament will be scheduled for June 30, and the second round of voting will take place on July 7.
“This is an important time to clarify the situation. I have heard your message, your concerns and will not leave them unanswered… France needs a clear majority to act in peace and harmony.”, said Macron.
Led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, the National Unity party won about 32 percent of the vote in Sunday’s vote, more than double the 15 percent Macron’s party won, according to early exit polls. The French Socialists gained 14%.
Le Pen, who is seeking to run in the 2027 election, where Macron will not be able to run, welcomed the president’s decision.
“We are ready to take power into our own hands if the French trust us in the upcoming national elections.” – she said, speaking at the rally.
Macron’s advisers, however, said the president made the decision after the 1980s anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, when he spoke to people on the street who told him they were tired of endless political bickering in parliament.
Le Pen and Bardella tried to present the EU election as a midterm referendum on Macron’s mandate, capitalizing on the country’s existing discontent over immigration, crime and a two-year inflation crisis.
