The President of the French Republic spoke on Sunday evening to react to the results of the European elections, which were dominated by a clear victory for the Rassemblement National

The next legislative elections were scheduled for 2027, following the presidential election. However, Emmanuel Macron has decided to call early elections at the end of June.

Faced with the historic results of the far right in the European elections on Sunday 9 June, Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the National Assembly and called for new legislative elections. The French will vote for their new MPs with a first round on Sunday 30 June and a second round on 7 July.

‘France needs a clear majority to act calmly,’ explained the president during his televised address.

Voters will therefore be canvassed again just three weeks after the European elections.

The last time the National Assembly was dissolved was in 1997, when Jacques Chirac called a new general election two years into his term of office. This initiative failed for the then President, as the ballot was won by a left-wing majority, leading to a coalition and the arrival of Lionel Jospin at Matignon.