French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that a snap parliamentary election will be held just weeks before the Olympic Games in Paris. The decision comes after the far-right National Rally won the European election in France, receiving more than double the votes of Macron’s centrist alliance.
In the European elections, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission chief, stated that “the centre is holding.” However, far-right parties saw gains in countries such as Italy, Austria, and Germany. Despite this setback for the centrist alliance, Macron has decided to call an early election in order to strengthen his mandate and ensure a better outcome for his party.
The snap election is set to take place on 30 June and 7 July, with the Games beginning in Paris on 26 July. This timing adds an extra layer of complexity to the political landscape just before one of France’s biggest international events. The decision to hold an early election has also taken many by surprise and raised questions about how it will affect preparations for the Olympics.
