Paris (National Times) France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday dissolved his government and called a snap parliamentary election after Marine Le Pen’s far-right party defeated him in the European Union vote, the Guardian reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This decision has caused significant political upheaval in France and has given the far-right a chance to gain real political power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macron, 46, has acknowledged the grim EU result and has called for lower house elections on June 30, with a second-round vote on July 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party wins a parliamentary majority, Macron would be left with little sway over domestic affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is an essential time for clarification,” Macron said in an address to the nation. “I have heard your message, your concerns and I will not leave them unanswered \u2026 France needs a clear majority to act in serenity and harmony.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Led by telegenic 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, the RN won about 32% of the vote in Sunday’s vote, more than double the Macron ticket’s 15%, according to exit polls. The Socialists came within a whisker of Macron, with 14%, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macron won re-election in 2022. His current term runs until spring 2027 and he cannot stand again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bardella was the first to urge Macron to call snap legislative elections, telling supporters after the projections were announced that French voters had “expressed a desire for change”. The country has “given its verdict and there is no appeal”, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Le Pen, widely seen as the frontrunner for the 2027 election in which Macron is unable to stand, welcomed his decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections,” she said at a rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macron’s Renaissance party currently has 169 lower house lawmakers, out of a total of 577. The RN has 88.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the RN wins a majority, Macron would still direct defence and foreign policy, but would lose the power to set the domestic agenda, from economic policy to security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Paris (National Times) France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday dissolved his government and called a snap parliamentary election after Marine Le Pen’s far-right party defeated him in the European Union vote, the Guardian reported. This decision has caused significant political upheaval in France and has given the far-right a chance to gain real political power. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n