- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday defended his decision to call early parliamentary elections following last weekend’s European Parliament elections, in which his centre-right parties suffered a crushing defeat to the right-wing National Rally.
- Macron argued that voters in the elections he just called would buck current trends and choose so-called “progressives.”
- “I think the French are smart, they see what is being done, what is consistent and what is not, and they know what to do,” Macron said, adding: “I don’t see the worst happening at all.”
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday defended the decision to call early parliamentary elections following his ruling party’s heavy defeat in European elections, arguing that voters would ultimately choose “progressives” rather than the far right.
In France, parliamentary elections determine the composition of Parliament, not who occupies the Elysée Palace. Macron has said he has no plans to step down before his term ends in 2027.
A solemn-faced French president said his move to call for early voting, with votes to be held in two stages on June 30 and July 7, was a show of “confidence” in the French people. He called on moderate politicians from the left and right to reunite his centrist coalition to defeat the far right.
France’s far-right party seeks alliance with conservatives after surprise victory in European Parliament
“I think the French are smart, they see what is being done, what is consistent and what is not, and they know what to do,” Macron said, adding: “I am far from believing the worst will happen. I am an indefatigable optimist.”
The 46-year-old was addressing French voters at his first press conference since his surprise decision on Sunday to dissolve the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, following the victory of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rally National party in the European elections.
Macron sought to address the concerns of those who fear the dangerous move could lead to the creation of a far-right government in France for the first time since World War II.
Crowds have been gathering in Paris and across the country every day since Sunday evening to protest against the national rally.
Macron firmly voiced his belief that voters refuse to choose between two extremes of the political spectrum, denied being defeated and said he would serve out his second term as president regardless of the outcome of the parliamentary vote.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks in Paris, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. President Emmanuel Macron addressed French voters on Wednesday for the first time since calling for early general elections following his party’s heavy defeat to the far right in the European vote. (AP Photo/Michelle Oyler)
Macron said the decision was about “giving governance to a political force chosen by the French people”, adding: “It’s crazy to think that it has to be the far right or political extremists. Or maybe there’s a spirit of defeat spreading everywhere.”
“If that’s what people are afraid of, now is the time to act,” he said.
Macron justified his decision by saying he could not ignore the new political reality, which had seen pro-European parties suffer a humiliating defeat and see support for the National Rally, led by star leader Jordan Bardera, drop by more than half.
Unlike Macron’s recent national addresses, which focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine and ways for Europe to forge a common defense policy independent of the United States and strengthen trade protections against China, he stuck to domestic issues popular with the right: curbing immigration, fighting crime and tackling Islamic separatism in France.
Macron, who is in his second and final term as president, said he hoped voters would unite in France to contain the far-right, as they had failed to do in the European elections. He called for “men and women of good will who can say ‘no’ to both extremes, left and right, to come together and build a common project for the country.”
“Today, things are simple: we have an unnatural alliance at two extremes, no agreement apart from the sharing of jobs, and no plan can be implemented,” Macron said.
While Macron appeared to exude the same enthusiasm that saw him win the presidential election in 2017, analysts say French voters are more pessimistic about the future and see him as increasingly out of touch with real life and wallet issues.
While acknowledging some mistakes made by pro-business centrist parties, Macron harshly criticized some conservatives for deciding to join forces with Le Pen’s National Rally, which has a history of racism and xenophobia. Macron slammed the coalition of left-wing parties as “abnormal and incoherent” after it included Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left party, Indefatigable France. Macron claims that Mélenchon “legitimized anti-Semitic policies” in the wake of Israel’s war with Hamas.
“We are not perfect, we have not done everything right, but we have achieved results and above all, we know how to act,” Macron said of his Renaissance party, adding that “the far right is the biggest threat” in the next elections.
“The question is: who will govern the country tomorrow,” he asked. “The far-right and a few cronies, or the democratic and progressive groups? That is the fundamental question.”
Potential alliances and France’s two-round voting system for national elections make the outcome highly uncertain.
Opposition parties on the left and right are scrambling to forge alliances and field candidates for early legislative votes.
While deep differences remain between parties on both sides of the political spectrum, the prominent figures calling for a united front seem to have one thing in common: They don’t want to work with Macron.
Despite their divisions, left-wing parties agreed late on Monday to form a coalition including the Greens, Socialists, Communists and the far-left Indomitable France.
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Le Pen is trying to consolidate her right-wing power in an effort to translate her European victory into a domestic one that could put her closer to power. Her party is projected to win the most seats in France in the European Parliament, potentially winning 30 of France’s 81 seats.
