03:06 PM
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, called early parliamentary elections for the end of this month, after the resounding victory of his rival’s party, Marine Le Pen, in the elections to the European Parliament. The far-right party led by Le Pen reached 31.4% of the vote, significantly surpassing Macron’s liberal coalition, which obtained only 14.6%.
Macron announced the dissolution of Parliament and brought forward the elections that were scheduled for 2027. Now, he set the dates for the two rounds of elections, which will take place on June 30 and July 7, just a few weeks before the Games. Paris Olympics. “I have heard his message,” the president told French voters.
Macron stressed the need for France to have a clear majority to govern in “serenity and harmony,” but expressed concern about the advances of the far right across the continent.
The president of the center stated in an interview with the French media, Figaro Magazine, that he will not resign from his position, despite the result of the legislative elections. “The institutions are clear and so is the president’s place, whatever the result,” he indicated.
With the rise of the far right and the fragmentation of the traditional left, France’s political future seems somewhat uncertain. While Macron seeks to consolidate his leadership and avoid a divided government, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally leaves the traditional right on the ropes, who seem to have no other way out than to unite.
The weeks prior to the first round will be decisive for the political order of France, which is why Macron began his campaign and called this Wednesday on the French people to unite under the premise “not to extremes.” “Things are simple, today we have unnatural alliances at both ends of the political spectrum,” the president said at a press conference.
Macron spoke of the proposal by the president of the traditional conservative party The Republicans, Éric Ciotti, to ally with the far-right National Rally. But he also referred to the agreement of socialists, communists, environmentalists and leftist movements to create a “new popular front”, despite the fact that their previous Nupes alliance was broken due to disagreements between the social democratic and radical wings.
“When the time comes, before or after the elections, I want to unite men and women of good will who will have been able to say no to extremes,” declared Macron, calling on his centrist alliance to talk with other parties.
