Emmanuel Macron calls shock snap national election after being hit by disaster in European Parliament vote
Macron
Emmanuel Macron has called a snap national vote and dissolved parliament after his party was projected to lose heavily in the European elections.
The French President has said he is calling for new national elections following the performance of the hard-right National Rally in the European elections.
According to the first exit polls, Marine Le Pen's National Rally won around 32 per cent of the votes, a 10 point increase on the last EU election in 2019 and some 17 points ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's party.
Across Europe, some 272 million people are voting in the 27 EU member states in order to elect 720 representatives to the European Parliament.
In a surprise announcement on Sunday evening, the president admitted he could not ignore the results of the European vote.
In a high-risk political gamble, less than two months before Paris hosts the Olympics, he said lower house elections would be called for June 30, with a second-round vote on July 7.
President Macron announced he is dissolving the National Assembly, French Parliament lower house, and calls new general elections on June 30, in Paris on June 9, 2024
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"Having carried out the consultation provided for in Article 12 of our constitution, I have decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future by voting," he said in a televised address.
"I have heard your message, your concerns, and I will not leave them unanswered.
"I know I can count on you to vote massively on June 30 and July 7.
"France needs a clear majority in order to act with serenity and harmony".
Marine Le Pen's party surged compared to 2019
REUTERS
Marine Le Pen welcomed the general election as she vowed to 'end mass migration'
REUTERS
Yesterday, the president had issued a warning to French voters that there would be severe consequences to backing National Rally.
“If France tomorrow sends a significant contingent of the far right and other big countries do the same, Europe could find itself at an impasse," he said.
The unexpected decision to call fresh national elections was welcomed by Le Pen, who has signalled this week's European vote as a landmark moment for France.
Reacting to Macron's decision to dissolve parliament, the 55-year-old told a rally of supporters: "This historic vote shows that when people vote, people win."
"We are ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections," she added.
"We are ready to exercise power, to end mass migration, to prioritise purchasing power, ready to make France live again."
France is not the only country to have seen a rise in support for parties on the Right during the European elections.
In Germany, The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) looks set for second place in EU, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats recording their worst ever result.
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