Far-right parties make significant gains in the European Union elections, according to preliminary results. Nationalist parties surge in countries including Germany, Austria, and France. French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party suffers such a defeat that he announces the dissolution of parliament and calls for snap elections on July 7th, stating his desire for a “clear voice for France.”
Exit polls indicate that the far-right shift is driven by concerns over the rising cost of living, immigration, and the expenses associated with the green transition. In a televised address, Macron tells a stunned French population, “I’ve decided to hand you back the choice of our parliamentary future with a vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly.”
The National Rally party, led by Macron’s rivals Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, secures over 30% of the vote according to exit polls, doubling the percentage of Macron’s centrist Renaissance party.
Across Europe, centre-right parties also see significant successes. They strengthen their hold on the European Parliament with victories in Germany and Spain and make notable advances in Hungary, challenging the long-standing dominance of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Despite predictions, the far right does not enjoy a dramatic surge across Europe. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party comes in second, and in Austria, the similarly named Freedom Party wins, but only narrowly.
