Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has announced that he is dissolving the national assembly, and calling for legislative elections on June 30 and July 7.
In elections to the European Parliament, Marine le Pen’s National Rally party won about 32% of the vote – a 10 point increase on the last EU election in 2019.
It is also more than double the 15% taken by Mr Macron’s Renaissance party, according to exit polls.
The French president said that he can’t pretend nothing has happened, that the outcome of the EU election is not good for his government and that the rise of nationalists is a danger for France and Europe.
The “rise of nationalists” is a danger to France and to Europe, he said.
Speaking at the Elysee Palace, Mr Macron said: “I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote.
“I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly.”
There will be two rounds of voting on 30 June and 7 July, he added.
Ms Le Pen said her party was “ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections”.
Peoplesmind