Macron calls for French election and decides to dissolve the National Assembly. Source: European Parliament via Flickr.
French president Emmanuel Macron has called for a new parliamentary election after exit polls showed his camp suffered a heavy loss in European elections to far-right Nationalist Rally party.
At Sunday’s European Parliament elections, far-right Nationalist have made the biggest gains, while the Greens and liberals lost ground and took a major hit, suggests the first predictions provided by the European Union (EU).
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party dominated the polls, winning 32 percent of the vote, double Macron’s pro-European party’s 15 percent projection.
In an address to the nation from the Elysse presidential palace, Macron said the rise of nationalist was dangerous for France.
“France needs a clear majority to act in serenity and harmony.
“Far-right parties… are progressing everywhere in the continent. It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself.
“I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly.”
The vote is set to commence on June 30 and July 7.
Shortly after Macron’s sudden announcement, the National Rally’s lead candidate, Jordan Bardella, 28, said he was ready to “take over power” in the upcoming national elections.
Bardella also sought to use the EU elections to hold a mid-term referendum on Macron’s policies, including immigration, crime and the two-year inflation crisis.
This EU elections mark a critical moment for Macron, as the French constitution prevents him from running for president for a third consecutive time in 2027.
Political observers characterise the shift to the right to the war in Ukraine and the rise in costs of living.
The situation in France “is a rampant mess” and Macron’s decision is a “risky gamble”, Jaques Reland from the Global Policy Institute told Al Jazeera.
“The European election was used a way for the French to vent…to say they are not satisfied on issues like immigration, cuts in unemployment benefits.”
“But they recognise one thing about him [Macron] that on the international level, he puts across a good image of France and Europe.”
