Macron bets on early French election after Europe fails

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for snap parliamentary elections later this month after his rival Marine Le Pen’s national rally scored a resounding victory in the European Parliament vote.

Exit polls showed the far-right party was expected to win 32% of the vote, more than twice as much as the president’s Ennahda party.

In announcing the dissolution of Congress, he said two rounds of voting would be held on June 30 and July 7, just weeks before the Paris Olympics.

Macron made the dramatic and surprising decision in a televised speech from the Elysée Palace an hour after voting in France’s EU elections ended and exit polls were released.

Shortly after his decision, Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of the national rally, publicly called on the president to call parliamentary elections.

“I have heard your message and I will not let it go without a response,” the president told French voters.

“France needs a clear majority for calm and harmony,” he said, adding that he could not succumb to the advances of the far right “across the continent.”

Now, just two years into his second presidential term, Macron already lacks a majority in the French parliament and, although this European vote will theoretically have no impact on national politics, he has made a clear decision not to proceed with a new one. Continuing to carry out its duties without consultation would lead to difficulties for the French Parliament.

Le Pen, who was defeated by Macron twice in presidential elections, reacted immediately, saying her party was “ready to exercise power and ready to end mass immigration”.

Now, just two years into his second presidential term, Macron already lacks a majority in the French parliament and, although this European vote will theoretically have no impact on national politics, he has made a clear decision not to proceed with a new one. Continuing to carry out its duties without consultation would lead to difficulties for the French Parliament.

Le Pen, who was defeated by Macron twice in presidential elections, reacted immediately, saying her party was “ready to exercise power and ready to end mass immigration”.

Calling an early election would be a huge surprise for the country and a huge risk for President Macron.

He could have reacted differently. He could have gone ahead and explained the huge victory of the far right as a European aberration that would be corrected in more important elections.

He could have believed that the upcoming European football championships in Germany and especially the Paris Olympics would provide a break from politics for a few months.

Paris commentators must have thought he would defeat his own party in this way.

But one can only assume that the president had foreseen this and planned his response in advance.

Of course, the results were almost identical to the polls, so he had plenty of time to consider his options.

The fact is that he is trapped.

Without a majority, getting any bill through the National Assembly is already a struggle. With much of the country now clearly opposed to him, any new legislation — such as the upcoming budget — could prove explosive.

Therefore, he pursues “clarity”. He said if the National Rally gets the votes, they should have a chance to govern.

Clearly, the president hopes his own Ennahda party will be able to fight back in the elections on June 30 and July 7. Or other parties would do better.

But he must recognize that the odds are high that the National Rally will win again. Maybe not as comprehensive as Sunday’s results, but enough to make it the largest party in parliament.

By then we may well have Marine Le Pen as prime minister, or Jordan Bardella.