French President Emmanuel Macron took a political gamble on Sunday as he dissolved the lower house of France's parliament, making way for a snap election. Macron's decision comes as his party suffered a massive loss to the far-right party of Marine Le Pen in the European Parliament vote.
As per the initial projects, Macron's Renaissance party was pushed to second place with just 15.2% of the vote as Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party came out on top with 31.5% of the vote. The Socialist came out third with 14.3% of the vote.
Just after the news of an impending defeat came, RN leader Jordan Bardella called on Macron to dissolve the French parliament. He said the gap between the two parties was a "stinging disavowal" for the president. Soon after, Macron made a national address, announcing he would dissolve the French lower house and hold parliamentary elections. "I cannot act as if nothing had happened," Macron said.
"I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future by voting. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly this evening," Macron said in the shock announcement. "This decision is serious, heavy. But it is above all, an act of trust. Trust in you, my dear compatriots. In the capacity of the French people to make the most just decision," the French president added.
Though separate elections are held to choose the country’s president in France - term as president still runs for three more years - the decision, he said, showed his confidence in our democracy and letting the sovereign people have their say.
Under the French system, parliamentary elections are held to elect the 577 members of the lower house, the National Assembly. The last election was held in 2022 and Macron's centrist party won the most seats but lost its majority at the National Assembly, forcing lawmakers into political maneuvering to pass bills.
The decision was welcomed by RN party chief Le Pen, who said "they were ready for it". She was the runner-up to Macron in the last two presidential elections. "We're ready to exercise power if the French people place their trust in us in these future legislative elections. We're ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration, ready to make the purchasing power of the French a priority," Le Pen added.
The party sources also said 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, would be its contender for prime minister if it won a majority
The party fought the elections promising to limit the free movement of migrants by carrying out national border controls and dialling back EU climate rules. The party no longer wants to leave the EU and the euro but aims to weaken it from within.
Analysts think Macron's move is a big gamble since the move could backfire, as this could also lead to a fraught power-sharing situation called cohabitation, with Macron forced to name a prime minister with different views.
