Following the publication of the initial results of the European Parliament elections, which saw Marine Le Pen’s far-right party win in France while Emmanuel Macron’s party faced defeat, the French president made a surprising announcement. He declared the dissolution of the National Assembly—the lower house of the French Parliament—and called for elections on June 30th and July 7th.
Macron justified this drastic step by citing the need to restore clarity to France’s political system. It’s true that since the 2022 elections, he has struggled to build a majority in the National Assembly, which has extremely complicated the government’s work. Over the past two years, the French political discourse has become increasingly radicalized, especially on the left, further exacerbating the situation.
Macron aims to reconnect with voters, who expressed their frustration in the last election primarily regarding the economic situation and concerns around immigration, by giving them the power to shape French policy and put an end to the political disorder.
But this is an extreme gamble that could prove dangerous, not only because it is destabilizing France just before it hosts the Olympics. It appears that Macron seeks to leverage the element of surprise. Although the opposition repeatedly called for the dissolution of parliament, they have been caught off guard by Macron’s move and are unprepared for the flash campaign now underway. The situation is particularly challenging for the fragmented French left, partly due to internal disagreements over Gaza and antisemitic statements from the far-left party.
Based on the tone of his speech, Macron also hopes that the existing fear among parts of the population regarding the possible consequences of a far-right victory will play in his favor. However, the level of dissatisfaction with Macron is so high that a victory for his party seems impossible.
Macron may have a more complex strategy in mind: allowing Le Pen to win in a month and hoping that three years of a far-right government will push voters back to his camp in the 2027 presidential elections (in which he himself cannot run). However, a Le Pen victory would plunge France into uncertainty, both domestically and internationally.
While the president plays a central role in shaping French foreign policy, a parliament with a far-right majority—historically linked to Putin—could affect France’s position in Europe, including its support for Ukraine.
Following the publication of the initial results of the European Parliament elections, which saw Marine Le Pen’s far-right party win in France while Emmanuel Macron’s party faced defeat, the French president made a surprising announcement. He declared the dissolution of the National Assembly—the lower house of the French Parliament—and called for elections on June 30th and July 7th.
Macron justified this drastic step by citing the need to restore clarity to France’s political system. It’s true that since the 2022 elections, he has struggled to build a majority in the National Assembly, which has extremely complicated the government’s work. Over the past two years, the French political discourse has become increasingly radicalized, especially on the left, further exacerbating the situation.
Macron aims to reconnect with voters, who expressed their frustration in the last election primarily regarding the economic situation and concerns around immigration, by giving them the power to shape French policy and put an end to the political disorder.
But this is an extreme gamble that could prove dangerous, not only because it is destabilizing France just before it hosts the Olympics. It appears that Macron seeks to leverage the element of surprise. Although the opposition repeatedly called for the dissolution of parliament, they have been caught off guard by Macron’s move and are unprepared for the flash campaign now underway. The situation is particularly challenging for the fragmented French left, partly due to internal disagreements over Gaza and antisemitic statements from the far-left party.
Based on the tone of his speech, Macron also hopes that the existing fear among parts of the population regarding the possible consequences of a far-right victory will play in his favor. However, the level of dissatisfaction with Macron is so high that a victory for his party seems impossible.
Macron may have a more complex strategy in mind: allowing Le Pen to win in a month and hoping that three years of a far-right government will push voters back to his camp in the 2027 presidential elections (in which he himself cannot run). However, a Le Pen victory would plunge France into uncertainty, both domestically and internationally.
While the president plays a central role in shaping French foreign policy, a parliament with a far-right majority—historically linked to Putin—could affect France’s position in Europe, including its support for Ukraine.