In recent developments, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to remain in power regardless of the outcomes of the snap parliamentary elections, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. The announcement came after Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for new parliamentary elections for the lower house of the French government two weeks ago.
The decision followed a crushing defeat for Macron’s Renaissance Party during the EU parliamentary elections, where the right-wing National Rally (RN) party doubled its vote share. The first round of the upcoming polls to form a new government is scheduled for June 30th with a second round set to take place on July 7th.
Prime Minister Attal stated that “the president will always be president,” and while the majority party is still undetermined, Macron will remain in power. The dissolution of the current government on June 9th is expected to mark a significant turning point in French politics, as indicated by Attal.
As the first round of legislative elections approaches, opinion polls show that Macron’s camp is significantly lagging behind both the RN and the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance. An Ipsos poll published on Saturday reveals that the right-wing coalition led by Marine Le Pen is leading with 35.5%, followed closely by the NFP with 29.5% of support. Macron’s alliance garnered only 19.5% in comparison.
In case of an RN victory, it is anticipated that Macron will offer the position of prime minister to Jordan Bardella, who currently leads the party.
To counter potential election defeat, President Macron released an open letter addressing the public, justifying his decision to dissolve the National Assembly as “the only possible choice” and urging French citizens to vote responsibly. Macron dismissed any speculation of resignation and expressed confidence in his ability to govern until May 2027. He emphasized that the upcoming vote is not a presidential election or a confidence vote but rather an opportunity for the French people to determine who should lead their nation.
Marine Le Pen, former long-time leader of RN and current parliamentary faction leader, suggests that Macron’s resignation might be the only way to prevent a hung parliament for the remaining three years of his term.