The far right has his government under siege.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president often associated with advocating for a united Europe, found himself turning his attention away from European matters in a bold move yesterday. His decision to call for snap parliamentary elections has effectively shifted the focus away from the results of the weekend’s European Parliament elections, redirecting the national political conversation. French political parties now face a mere three weeks to prepare for the upcoming legislative battle.
The results of the European parliamentary election in France were a resounding blow to Macron’s centrist alliance. Led by Valérie Hayer, his list suffered a significant defeat, aligning with pre-election predictions. The hard-right National Rally (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, emerged as the dominant force, securing 30 seats with 31.5% of the vote. In stark contrast, Macron’s alliance could only manage 13 seats, with a mere 14.6% of the vote—a far cry from the 30 seats captured by the RN. This outcome mirrored a similar showing by the left-wing list, led by Rafaël Glucksmann, which earned 14% of the vote and also secured 14 seats.
The results underscore the shifting political landscape in France, with the far-right National Rally gaining unprecedented ground while Macron’s political power weakens. The snap election call represents a gamble for Macron, whose position is increasingly precarious as he faces a rising tide of populism and nationalist sentiment both in France and across Europe. His move to refocus attention on national politics comes at a time when the European Union is under significant pressure from the hard right, which has gained momentum in several key EU member states.
Macron’s challenge now is to retain political control in a time of growing fragmentation and polarization, both domestically and within the broader European context. The success of the far-right in France signals a deeper crisis of confidence in Macron’s leadership, and the political landscape in France may be forever altered if the National Rally continues to rise. For Europe, the implications are profound. A weakening France could shift the balance of power within the EU, leading to challenges to the European project itself, as populist movements push back against the EU’s influence and ideals.
