France’s Government Resigns Following Constitutional Court Setback; Marine Le Pen Demands Snap Elections
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron‘s government resigned on tuesday, June 18, 2024, after a stinging defeat in Sunday’s European parliament elections where Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party secured a landslide victory. The resignation, announced by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, throws France into political turmoil and has prompted Le Pen to call for immediate parliamentary elections.
The unexpected outcome of the European vote – seeing RN gain over 31% of the vote compared to Macron’s Renaissance party’s 8.3% - exposed deep dissatisfaction with Macron’s policies and fueled anxieties about rising immigration and the cost of living. The dissolution of the National Assembly and the call for a snap election, scheduled for July 6th and 14th, represent a high-stakes gamble by Macron to regain control and prevent Le Pen’s far-right party from gaining power. This move could dramatically reshape France’s political landscape and its role within the European Union.
Prime Minister Attal formally tendered the government’s resignation to macron earlier Tuesday. In a televised address, Macron stated he would not allow the European election results to dictate the country’s future and that a fresh mandate from the French people was necessary. “I cannot pretend that nothing has happened,” Macron said. “We need to give the French people the prospect to choose their future.”
Marine Le Pen swiftly responded to the declaration, declaring the RN was ”ready” for a parliamentary election and vowing to address the concerns of “forgotten” French citizens. “The people have spoken out loud and clear,” Le Pen stated.”They no longer trust Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Its time for a change.”
The upcoming elections will be a crucial test for both Macron and Le Pen. Recent polls suggest the RN is well-positioned to win a significant number of seats in the National Assembly, perhaps leading to a cohabitation government where Le Pen’s party controls parliament while Macron remains president. This scenario would likely lead to political gridlock and could force Macron to appoint a prime minister from the RN.
The dissolution of the government comes amid growing social unrest in France, including protests against pension reforms and concerns about security ahead of the Paris Olympics. The outcome of the parliamentary elections will have far-reaching consequences for France’s domestic and foreign policies, as well as its commitment to the European project.
