The French right under Marine Le Pen won 31.5% of the vote compared to Macron’s 15.2%
French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the French National Assembly and called a snap election in response to his humiliating defeat in the European election. The decision is a significant gamble that could backfire spectacularly for him.
In preliminary results from the European election, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally have won 30 seats with 31.5% of the vote, a stunning victory for the French right. By contrast, Macron’s Renaissance Party managed to secure just 15.2% of the vote.
Macro addressed the French people directly as the scale of the defeat became clear.
“I have decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote,” he said.
“I am thus dissolving the National Assembly this evening.”
The first round of elections is set for June 30, with the second following on July 7.
Macron referred to his decision as “serious and weighty.”
“But it is before all an act of confidence,” he added.
“Confidence in you, my dear compatriots, in the capacity of the French people to make the most just choice for themselves and for future generations.”
The results, and Macron’s announcement of a snap election, were greeted with jubilation by Marine Le Pen and her supporters.
“We’re ready for power if French people put their trust in us,” Le Pen said, addressing senior party members.
Le Pen said that her party had won because it best represented France and the concerns of ordinary French people, which are immigration, inflation and the cost of living, and crime.
“When the people vote, the people win.”
Her party’s victory in these elections is expected to be a prelude to an even greater victory in the national election. The party is already the largest opposition party in parliament, with 88 members.
“It’s going to be very hard to stop us now,” said a National Rally senator.
“We’re everywhere now. There is no more fortress that is impossible for us to take. We have voters in every sector of life, every profession.”
If Macron is roundly defeated in the national election, his legislative agenda will be stymied for the final two years of his term. He will not be able to run for re-election in 2027, due to term limits.
Macron’s decision to call a national election was one of many dramatic moments in a night of stunning reversals for Europe’s left-liberal establishment.
In Germany, the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second place, with 15.6% of the vote, and in Italy the Brothers of Italy party won, with 28.6% of the vote. The populist right gained significantly in the Netherlands, Hungary and Spain too.
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