French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with members of the AI sector at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France, on May 21, 2024.
Yoan Valat Afp | Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he would dissolve the country’s parliament and call for new legislative elections across the country after suffering a landslide defeat in EU elections.
The surprise announcement came after a poll published by public broadcaster France TV showed that Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) would win around 31.5% of the vote, compared to 15.2% for Macron’s Renaissance party.
“I will not be able, at the end of the day, to act as if nothing happened,” Macron said in a TV address, according to a CNBC translation.
After asking Macron to call the election, Le Pen welcomed the news, saying X: “We are ready.”
This is a risky move by Macron, who could be left out of control of France’s domestic affairs if the RN wins a parliamentary majority. Macron’s presidency will not end until 2027 and he cannot stand for a third term.
The first round of parliamentary elections will take place on June 30, with a second round on July 7, Macron said.
Polls closed on Sunday after the final, and biggest, day of voting in European Parliament elections, with populist, far-right parties winning record support, according to preliminary data.
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is predicted to win the most seats in parliament, but with more seats than before.
This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.
– CNBC’s Charlotte Reed contributed to this report.
