French President Emmanuel Macron has taken drastic measures in response to the far-right’s gains in the recent European Union elections. After his center-right coalition was defeated by the far-right in EU opinion polls, Macron has dissolved the French parliament and called early legislative elections.
What is a surprise election?
Elections that are held sooner than expected or required by law are called surprise elections. Surprise elections are usually held without sufficient notice or before the expiration of a term. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including political strategy, a desire to take advantage of a favorable situation, or a desire to break a deadlock.
Why Macron dissolved the French parliament
In the recent European elections, Macron’s centrist party, led by MEP Valérie Heyer, underperformed, projecting it to win 14.8-15.2% of the vote, well below the 32-33% of the far-right Rally National. The party’s leading candidate was Jordan Bardella, only 28 years old.
Macron will face re-election as president in 2022 and will not be able to run for office again after his current term ends in 2027.
What did Emmanuel Macron say?
Macron stressed that the decision to dissolve Parliament and call elections was not taken lightly. “Far-right parties are gaining strength everywhere on the continent. This is a situation I cannot give up on,” he said.
Macron described the decision as “serious and momentous” and said: “It is an act of trust, my dear compatriots, and of trust in the French people’s capacity to make the best choices for themselves and for future generations.”
“I have decided to give you a choice,” he said, asserting that he had “confidence in our democracy,” adding that he would “give a say to the sovereign people.”
When do the elections take place?
The elections will be held under Article 12 of the French Constitution, which allows the president to dissolve the National Assembly in times of political unrest, such as disagreements between parliament and the executive. Citizens must vote within 20 to 40 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly. The first round of voting will therefore take place on June 30 and the second round on July 7, Macron announced in a speech on Sunday.
What was said at the national meeting?
Jordan Bardella, the presidential front-runner, urged Macron to take the step, saying French voters have clearly “expressed a desire for change,” The Guardian reported. He said the country’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
The party’s figurehead and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen welcomed Macron’s decision, saying it was “in keeping with the institutional logic of the Fifth Republic.”[The Party] “We are ready to take power if the French people place their trust in us in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” she said, adding: “We are ready to defend the interests of the French people.”
