Emmanuel Macron bets on early elections in France after defeat in Europe

President Emmanuel Macron has called for early parliamentary elections later this month after his opponent Marine Le Pen’s big victory in the European Parliament elections.

Opinion polls say the far-right party is on track to win 32% of the vote, more than double the president’s Renaissance party.

Announcing the dissolution of parliament, he said two rounds of voting would take place on June 30 and July 7, a few weeks before the Paris Olympics.

Mr Macron made the dramatic and unexpected decision in a televised speech from the Élysée Palace an hour after voting ended and exit polls were published in the EU election at France.

His decision came not long after National Rally’s 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, publicly called on the president to call congressional elections.

“I have heard your message,” the president told French voters, “and I will not let it go without a response.”

“France needs a clear majority of serenity and harmony,” he said, adding that he could not resign himself to the advance of the far right “everywhere on the continent.”

Now just two years into his second presidential term, Mr. Macron falls short of a majority in the French parliament, and although this European vote should not theoretically affect national politics, He clearly decided that continuing his term without a new popular consultation would put too much strain on the system.

Ms. Le Pen, who was twice defeated by Mr. Macron in the presidential election, immediately reacted, saying that her party was “ready to exercise power, ready to end mass immigration”.

Now just two years into his second term as president, Mr Macron falls short of a majority in the French parliament, and although this European vote should not, in theory, affect national politics , but he clearly decided that continuing his term without a new popular consultation would result in too much pressure on the system.

Ms. Le Pen, who was twice defeated by Mr. Macron in the presidential election, immediately reacted, saying that her party was “ready to exercise power, ready to end mass immigration”.

The call for early elections was a big surprise for the country and a huge risk for President Macron.

He could have reacted differently. He could have continued, explaining the huge victory of the far right as a mistake in Europe that would be corrected in more important elections.

He could have counted on the upcoming European football championships in Germany and, above all, the Paris Olympics to keep people’s attention away from politics for a few months.

That is certainly what the Paris commentariat thinks he will follow his party’s path.

But one can only assume that the president saw this coming and planned a response in advance.

Surely the results are an almost exact replica of the polls, so he will have plenty of time to consider his options.

The truth is he’s stuck.

Without a majority, getting any bill passed by Congress has been a struggle. With most of the country now clearly opposed to him, any new legislation – such as the upcoming budget – could cause an explosion.

So he became plump for “obviousness”. If National Rally has the votes, he said, they will be given a chance to govern.

Clearly the president will hope his own Renaissance party can fight back in the elections on June 30 and July 7. Or other parties will do better, too.

But he must appreciate that the odds favor another win for the National Rally. Maybe not as impressive as Sunday’s result, but enough for it to become the largest party in parliament.

At that point, we could have Prime Minister Marine Le Pen, or indeed Jordan Bardella.