France: Macron dissolves parliament and announces new elections

After the defeat of his center camp in the European elections, French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the French National Assembly. Macron announced new elections in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.

France’s challenges require clarity and the French deserve respect. “So at the end of this day, I cannot pretend that nothing has happened,” Macron said.

“This decision is serious, difficult, but it is above all an act of trust, trust in you, my dear fellow citizens.” Macron spoke of trust in the ability of the French people to make the best decision for themselves and their future generations.

Right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National wins clearly

According to projections, the right-wing nationalist party Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen, has clearly won the European elections in France. The Eurosceptic party received 31.5 to 32.3 percent of the vote, while Macron’s pro-European camp received only 15.2 to 15.4 percent. According to projections, the Socialists came in third place with 14 to 14.2 percent, just behind Macron’s center bloc. The far-right party Reconquête received 5.3 to 5.5 percent.

France’s center camp was already weakened. It has not had an absolute majority in the National Assembly for almost two years. Governing has been difficult since then. For Macron, the failure in the European elections is a bitter defeat. France is also looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election.

Macron can no longer run

Macron, who twice won the runoff election against the right-wing figurehead Le Pen, will not be able to run again after two terms in office. It is still unclear who the centrist forces will put forward and who would have a chance against Le Pen. The daughter of the right-wing extremist party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen has successfully managed to present a much more moderate image in recent years and make her RN electable well into the bourgeois right.