Macron Calls Snap Elections for June 30 and July 7 After Defeat to Le Pen in EU Vote

Jun 9, 2024, 07:19 PM

French President Emmanuel Macron's party suffered a significant defeat in the European Parliament elections, with Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally securing around 32% of the vote compared to Macron's 15%. In response to the defeat, Macron announced the dissolution of the French National Assembly and called for snap legislative elections to be held on June 30 and July 7. Exit polls showed Le Pen's party leading with 31.5% of the vote, while Macron's party trailed at 15.2%. This move underscores the growing influence of far-right parties in Europe and represents a major shift in French politics. The decision to hold early elections, originally scheduled for 2027, is seen as a high-stakes gamble by Macron to address the rise of nationalist sentiments.