State of fear
Macron’s gov’t rattled by far-right surge, parl. dissolution
By Abed Akbari
Political analyst
“Europe has never faced a threat of this magnitude,” Emmanuel Macron warned with grave concern and unease in a ceremony in honor of the Normandy landings, a pivotal operation in World War II. His subsequent television interview with French channels captured the attention of many experts, as the title he chose carried a weighty message. Macron’s trepidation proved prescient as polls predicted a victory for the extreme right in the European Parliament elections.
However, as the final day of voting in these elections concluded and estimates showed a 30% win for the right-wing party “National Rally,” led by Marine Le Pen, the French president took swift action. He announced snap elections, calling for the dissolution of parliament and scheduling new elections within the coming weeks—on June 30 and July 7, respectively. Macron’s move reflected a sense of urgency and a desire to reshape the political landscape in the face of a surging right-wing tide.
The unexpected decision by Macron, unveiled on the evening of Sunday, June 9, came amid polls predicting a significant shift in the political landscape. The “ Renaissance” party, led by Macron, was projected to secure only around 15% of the votes in the European Parliament elections, while the main opposition party, the Socialists, headed by Raphaël Glucksmann, was forecast to garner about 14% of the vote.
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