Emmanuel Macron reportedly wanted to call new elections for months, but preparations for the Paris Olympics are said to have stopped him.
After the result in the EU election, where the right-wing nationalist National Gathering took home 31.4 percent of the votes and the own party Renässans only 14.6 percent, however, it was clear. It was a new election anyway.
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When the first forecasts of the election are presented, the right-wing nationalist National Gathering takes the lead with 34 percent of the votes, against the left-wing alliance NFP’s 28.5 percent. President Macron’s center alliance Together ranks third with 20.3 percent.
– I want to thank the French people, says party leader Jordan Bardella.
– I will become prime minister of all the French, but also listen to the opposition.
These are fairly expected numbers, considering how the opinion polls have looked – but at the same time a historic result for the National Assembly that has never been bigger.
Mélenchon: “We are the only option”
During a speech shortly after the forecast was presented, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left alliance NFP, announced that it sees itself as the only alternative in the fight against the National Assembly.
At the same time, he says that the alliance will withdraw in the circles in which it comes in third place – to beat the far right.
– Not a single chair too many for the National Assembly, he says.