Macron urges French to make ‘right choice’ in election gamble

French President Emmanuel Macron has called snap elections following a strong performance by the far-right in the European Parliament vote, where his centrist alliance suffered significant losses. Despite mainstream centrist parties retaining an overall majority, the far-right saw notable successes in countries like Italy, Austria, and France. Macron’s decision to dissolve the national parliament is a strategic attempt to prevent the far-right National Rally (RN) from gaining power before his term ends in 2027.

Macron expressed confidence in French voters making the right choice in the upcoming elections, scheduled for June 30, with a second round on July 7. This move has caused concern even within his party, with critics warning of potential political instability. Lower-house speaker Yael Braun-Pivet suggested that forming a coalition might have been a preferable alternative, while Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo criticized the timing of the elections just before the Paris Olympics. However, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach downplayed the impact on the event.

Macron emphasized the dangers posed by the rise of nationalist and demagogic forces, noting that the far-right secured nearly 40 percent of the European Parliament vote in France. He aims to reclaim the parliamentary majority lost in the 2022 legislative elections, though there is a risk that the RN could win, necessitating a coalition with a far-right prime minister. RN vice-president Sebastien Chenu announced Jordan Bardella as their candidate for prime minister, while Marine Le Pen is expected to run for president again in 2027.

Source – CGTN