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June 10, 2024

Macron Calls Snap Election After Suffering Blow as Far Right Dominates EU Vote in France
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In France, President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called a snap election
for June 30, following major losses in EU elections to the far-right
National Rally party.

President Emmanuel Macron: "After having proceeded with the
consultations as provided in Article 12 of our Constitution, I decided
to give back to you the choice for the future of our Parliament with a
vote. And so, I am dissolving tonight our National Assembly."

Marine Le Pen's far-right RN party won over 30% of the vote in
preliminary tallies - more than twice as many votes as Macron. The RN
announced 28-year-old Jordan Bardella as its candidate for prime
minister.

The far right made gains elsewhere, including in Italy, Austria and
Germany, where the extreme-right Alternative for Germany gained six
seats and placed second behind Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social
Democrats. Despite the boost for hard-right groups, centrist parties
will still hold an outright majority in the 720-seat European
Parliament. Nationalist, anti-immigrant groups are expected to control
130 seats.


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