After President Emmanuel Macron’s resounding defeat in the European elections, France quickly entered election campaign mode.
Macron dissolved the National Assembly, France’s parliament, on Sunday and scheduled parliamentary elections in a few weeks.
Several parties are planning their campaigns in response to the sudden election call.
France’s far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, emerged as the clear winner of France’s European elections, taking 31.36% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced by the Interior Ministry on Monday after all votes were cast. were counted. .
Macron’s camp came in a distant second with 14.6%, followed by the Socialists with 13.83%. Another far-right party, Reconquest, won 5.47%.
The Eurosceptic National Rally – which until six years ago was called the National Front – has softened its image in recent years in an effort to broaden its appeal and strengthen Le Pen’s bid for the presidency.
Macron’s job as president is not at stake in the upcoming elections, as the next presidential election will not take place until 2027.
The government has been under pressure for a long time
His aim is to create a more stable majority in parliament for his remaining term in office. He will hope that citizens in France will not vote in the same way in the national elections as they did in the European Parliament elections, and that the snap elections will break Le Pen’s momentum.
Although Macron plays a prominent role on the international stage, his government camp has been struggling at home for two years, as his faction has not had an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
This has forced his camp to maneuver in a contentious and combative legislative environment, often resorting to heavy-handed tactics and sidestepping votes to implement their plans.
The threat of a vote of no confidence this fall has been hanging over the government for some time, adding to the challenges facing the administration.
Consequences for Germany and Europe
If Macron’s gamble fails, it could have serious consequences for Germany and Europe. Observers say he could lose significant influence, making it difficult for him to advance his foreign policy agenda.
France could find itself in a chaotic domestic political situation, endangering its reliability as an international partner.
However, if Macron succeeds in gaining a more stable majority, this would benefit international partners as he would no longer be concerned with suppressing domestic political unrest.
This marks the first dissolution of the French National Assembly in more than 25 years, an important step in France’s recent political history.
