Emmanuel Macron Dissolves Parliament, Calls New Elections

In a surprising move, French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the lower house of France’s parliament and called snap legislative elections. A surge in far-right populism in the country provoked Emmanuel Macron into calling an election. In an address to the nation on Sunday, Macron said that the first round of elections will take place on June 30 and the second round on July 7. Notably, this comes weeks before the Paris Olympics.

“I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future by voting. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly this evening,” said Emmanuel Macron in the address. As per the French system, parliamentary elections are held to elect the 577 members of the National Assembly. These elections will not affect Macron's role, as presidential elections are separate in the country, and Macron's current term as president runs until 2027.

Emmanuel Macron's ruling Renaissance party has 169 lawmakers in the National Assembly, and Marine Le Pen's National Rally Party is the largest party in opposition with 88 seats. With this unexpected move, the French president expects that voters will turn back the far-right tide and show Marine Le Pen’s party cannot win at a national level. The French parliament was dissolved by a president for the last time in 1997.