Macron dissolves parliament for election
Following a significant defeat at the EU parliamentary elections, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the parliament and scheduled new elections for June 30. Macron’s centrist allies trailed behind Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally, which emerged as the leading party with around 32% of the votes. Acknowledging the poor performance of his party, Macron expressed the move as a difficult decision rooted in trust for the French people. The loss is seen as a setback for pro-European parties and raises the stakes for Macron, who risks losing much of his power if Le Pen’s party gains a parliamentary majority. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted the outcome is a defeat for the government, and that they must reflect on their failure to listen to the public.