PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron defended the decision to call a surprise general election following his party’s disastrous defeat in European Parliament elections, arguing Wednesday that voters would ultimately choose “progressives” rather than the far right.
A solemn President Macron said his move to call early parliamentary elections, to be held in two phases on June 30 and July 7, was a show of his “confidence” in the French people. He urged moderate politicians on the left and right to reunite his centrist coalition to defeat the far right.
“I think the French are smart, they see what is being done, what is consistent and what is not, and they know what to do,” Macron said, adding: “I am far from believing the worst will happen. I am an indefatigable optimist.”
The 46-year-old president addressed French voters at his first news conference since his surprise decision on Sunday. Dissolve the DietThe French lower house of parliament announced the results of the elections after far-right Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won the European Parliament elections.
Macron said: Risky behavior France’s far-right could be heading a government for the first time since World War II.
Crowds have been gathering in Paris and across the country every day to protest the National Assembly since the elections were announced on Sunday night.
Macron firmly voiced his belief that voters refuse to choose between two extremes of the political spectrum, denied being defeated and said he would serve out his second term as president regardless of the outcome of the parliamentary vote.
Macron said the decision was about “giving governance to the political forces chosen by the French people”, adding: “It is crazy to think that it has to be the far right or political extremists. Or maybe there is a spirit of defeat everywhere.”
“If that’s what people are afraid of, now is the time to act,” he said.
Macron justified his decision by pointing out that he could not ignore the new political reality, following the humiliating defeat of the pro-European parties, which received less than half the support of the National Rally. Star leader Jordan Bardella.
While Macron’s recent addresses to the nation have focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine, ways to forge a common European defence policy independent of the US and greater trade protections against China, this time he stuck to domestic issues favoured by the right: curbing immigration, fighting crime and reducing immigration. Islamic Separatism in France.
With three years left in his second presidential term, Macron is hoping voters will unite to contain the far-right in national elections. In Europe this was not the caseHe called on “men and women of good will who can say ‘no’ to both extremes of the left and the right to come together and build a common project for the country.”
“Today, things are simple: we have an unnatural alliance at two extremes, no agreement apart from the sharing of jobs, and no plan can be implemented,” Macron said.
While Macron appeared to exude the same enthusiasm that saw him win the presidential election in 2017, analysts say French voters are more pessimistic about the future and see him as increasingly out of touch with real life and wallet issues.
While acknowledging some mistakes made by pro-business centrist parties, Macron harshly criticized some conservatives for deciding to join forces with Le Pen’s National Rally, which has a history of racism and xenophobia. Macron slammed the coalition of left-wing parties, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left “Indomitable France,” calling it “abnormal and contradictory,” accusing Mélenchon of “legitimizing anti-Semitic policies” after the Israel-Hamas war.
“We are not perfect, we have not done everything right, but we have achieved results and above all, we know how to act,” Macron said of his Renaissance party, adding that “the far right is the biggest threat” in the next elections.
“The question is: who will govern the country tomorrow,” he asked. “The far-right and a few cronies, or the democratic and progressive groups? That is the fundamental question.”
Potential alliances and France’s two-round voting system for national elections make the outcome highly uncertain.
Left and right opposition parties They are scrambling to form alliances and field candidates. Early Legislative Voting.
While deep differences remain between parties on both sides of the political spectrum, the prominent figures calling for a united front seem to have one thing in common: They don’t want to work with Macron.
Despite their divisions, left-wing parties agreed late on Monday to form a coalition including the Greens, Socialists, Communists and the far-left Indomitable France.
Le Pen is trying to consolidate her right-wing power in an effort to translate her European victory into a domestic one that could put her closer to power. Her party is projected to win the most seats in France in the European Parliament, potentially winning 30 of France’s 81 seats.
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Sark reported from Nice, France.
