France President Macron Calls Snap Legislative Elections After Loss to Far-Right

France President Macron Calls Snap Legislative Elections After Loss to Far-Right

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for snap legislative elections after his party, La République En Marche! (LREM), lost its majority in the National Assembly in the recent presidential election.

The elections, scheduled for June 12th and 19th, will be a high-stakes contest for Macron, who needs to secure a majority in parliament to implement his reform agenda.

In the presidential election, Macron narrowly defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, but LREM lost more than 100 seats in the National Assembly, leaving it short of a majority.

The rise of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, led by Le Pen, has been a major concern for Macron. RN gained 89 seats, becoming the largest opposition party in the assembly.

Macron’s call for snap elections is an attempt to bolster his support in parliament and prevent a potential government deadlock. He hopes to capitalize on the momentum from his victory in the presidential election and win a clear majority that will allow him to pass his policies.

The elections are expected to be hotly contested, with LREM facing challenges from RN, the left-wing NUPES coalition, and the traditional right-wing Les Républicains party. The outcome will have significant implications for Macron’s ability to govern and implement his ambitious reform plans.