By Matthew Eloyi
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the dissolution of the National Assembly following his party’s defeat in the 2024 European Parliament elections, according to local media reports.
“I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly,” Macron declared in a brief speech. “This is a serious, weighty decision. But it is above all an act of trust,” he added.
The elections for the new National Assembly are scheduled to take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7.
Macron’s Renaissance party garnered only 15.2 per cent of the votes in the European Parliament elections, trailing far behind the far-right National Rally, which received 31.8 per cent.
“The unprecedented gap between the presidential majority and the leading opposition party reflects a stinging disavowal and rejection of the policies led by Emmanuel Macron,” said RN President Jordan Bardella, as quoted by local media following the announcement of the election results.
“We’re ready for it. I call on the French people to join us in forming around the RN a majority in the service of the only cause that guides our steps: France,” RN parliamentary party leader Marine Le Pen stated on social media platform X.
The European Parliament elections were held from June 6 to June 9, with voters from the 27 EU member states selecting 720 lawmakers for the 10th European Parliament.
