Three days after dissolving the National Assembly, the President of the Republic held a press conference at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines in Paris

Explaining and justifying the dissolution

It’s time for Emmanuel Macron to explain everything. On Wednesday 12 June, the President of the Republic held a lengthy press conference at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines in Paris to justify his decision to dissolve the National Assembly following the RN’s landslide victory in the European elections and to give direction to the majority’s campaign.

Parliamentary deadlock and political clarification

In justifying his decision to dissolve the National Assembly, Emmanuel Macron said he had “taken note of a blockage that inescapably prevented the government from acting”. In his view, the relative majority in Parliament “has made action less clear and has not allowed us to build lasting coalitions”.

The importance of dissolution after the European elections

Added to this political situation was the victory of the RN in the European elections, “a major political fact that cannot be ignored”, he said. So only dissolution “will make things clearer”. “Returning to the sovereign people is the only republican decision”, he added.

Criticism of political alliances

Macron sharply criticised the alliances being prepared on both the left and the far right for the legislative elections on 30 June and 7 July, which he considered to be “tinkering around the edges”. “Since Sunday evening, the masks have come off and the battle of values has come out into the open”, he declared. The dissolution is “a litmus test between those who choose to make their shops prosper and those who want to make France prosper”.

Opposition to extreme alliances

He denounced “unnatural” alliances between “the two extremes”, around the RN and LFI. “In the space of a few hours, the right is turning its back on the legacy of General de Gaulle, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy”, he said, referring to the alliance sought by Éric Ciotti between LR and the RN, which he described as a “devil’s pact”. As for “the republican left”, it “allies itself with the far left, which is guilty of anti-Semitism, communitarianism and anti-parliamentarianism”. “Léon Blum must be turning over in his grave”, he said, alluding to the “Popular Front” name of the alliance of the left.

A call for moderate unity

Faced with these oppositions, Macron called for a rallying of those who “will have been able to say no to the extremes”, “before or after” the legislative elections. “I want the leaders of the presidential majority to engage in dialogue with forces and personalities who are not part of it today”, he said.

Position on the election campaign

He assured that he “will not be campaigning in the legislative elections”. “I do not intend to campaign any more than I did in 2017 and 2022”, while stressing the importance of “setting the course”.

Refusal to debate Marine Le Pen

He also said that he would not accept a debate with Marine Le Pen. Before the European elections, Le Pen had said that she would only accept a face-to-face debate if the President put his resignation “on the table”. Under these conditions, Macron said “no”.

Presidential commitment and responsibility

As he had done on Tuesday, Macron assured that he would not resign after the legislative elections. “I want to wring the neck of this canard that has never existed, it’s absurd”, he insisted. “I have twice put myself to the vote of the French people”, “I was not head of the list for the European elections”, he defended, saying that the presidential election was “played out in 2022 and for five years”.

Response to the rise of the far right

Asked about the rise of the far right, Macron admitted his “responsibility” for not having “provided a sufficient response” to “concerns”. “If I thought I had done everything right, I wouldn’t be here before you today, I wouldn’t have dissolved,” he stressed.

Commitment to republican integration

Macron promised to open “a major debate” on secularism, leading to “clear measures” on a concept that he felt was “not well suited to the needs of the population”.

Protecting young people

Finally, he believes that the government must have a “reinforced response” to “protect our children and our youth”. “Today, our children are not looked after in the same way depending on the neighbourhood they come from”, he lamented.

Combating screen addiction

Macron also believes that “screen addiction is the breeding ground for all difficulties”. He promised that the government would take “clear decisions” in this area.

Abolition of a territorial tier

To improve the “day-to-day life” of the French people, the President expressed his desire to “abolish a territorial tier” in the French administration, without specifying which one. He stressed the need to deconcentrate more quickly in order to bring greater simplicity and freedom to the regions, and reopened the discussion on the large regions, which, in his view, have pushed decision-making further away. He wants to give citizens back their freedom of choice on this issue.

Pensions indexed to inflation

Emmanuel Macron has given assurances that pensions will remain “indexed to inflation”, refuting claims by the Rassemblement National that the government has a “hidden agenda” in this area. He asserted that the purchasing power of pensioners would not be used as an adjustment variable, and accused “the extreme left” and “extreme right” blocs of risking “bankrupting” the pension system by wishing to go back on the 2023 reform.

Electoral reform in New Caledonia suspended

The President announced the suspension of the constitutional bill modifying the electoral body in New Caledonia, which was at the root of the unrest there, in order to “give full rein to dialogue and the return to order”. Although the law had been adopted by the National Assembly and the Senate and was due to be confirmed by Congress, he could not convene Congress until the new National Assembly had been elected.

Accusations of ambiguity on Russia towards the RN and LFI

Emmanuel Macron accused the Rassemblement National of maintaining an “ambiguity with regard to Russia” and criticised the “exit from NATO” advocated by the Lepénistes. Although Jordan Bardella clarified in March that the RN does not wish to leave the Alliance “in times of war”, Macron also attacked La France insoumise, accused of wanting to “help Russia”.

Refusal to debate Marine Le Pen

The President will not be leading the majority’s campaign for the legislative elections, a role that will fall to the Prime Minister, and confirmed that he will not be debating Marine Le Pen. He explained that his role is to give direction and vision, not to campaign for the legislative elections. As for a debate with Marine Le Pen, he recalled that he had proposed this clarification before the European elections, a proposal to which she did not respond.he key points to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s press conference on the 2024 legislative elections