On May 21, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech at a meeting with members in the field of artificial intelligence at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, France.
Yoann Valat | AFP | Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he would dissolve the country’s parliament and called for a national vote on new legislation after a crushing defeat in EU elections.
After the shocking news exit polls Information released by public broadcaster France Télévisions shows that the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen will win about 31.5% of the vote, while Macron’s Ennahda party will win 15.2% of the vote.
“At the end of the day, I will not be able to act as if nothing happened,” Macron said in a televised speech, according to a CNBC translation.
After calling for Macron to call elections, Le Pen welcomed the news, saying on the X: “We are ready.”
It’s a risky move by Macron, who may not be able to control France’s domestic problems if the Nationalists win a parliamentary majority. Macron’s presidential term does not end until 2027, and he is unable to run for a third term.
Macron said that the first round of congressional elections will be held on June 30, and the second round of elections will be held on July 7.
Populist far-right parties won record support as polls closed on Sunday after the final and largest polling day for European Parliament members, early data showed.
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is expected to win the most parliamentary seats again, but slightly more than before.
This is a developing story and will be updated soon.
—CNBC’s Charlotte Reed contributed to this report.
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