Summary of the day
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has urged all parties to form an alliance against Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and resist the “spirit of defeatism” after he announced a surprise snap election in response to the far-right’s large gains in European elections.
Macron said that he does “not want to give the keys to power to the far right in [the presidential election of] 2027, so I fully accept having triggered a movement to provide clarification.”
He defended his controversial decision to call elections. “The votes cast (in the European election) put the far-right forces at almost 40% and the extremes (on the right and left) at almost 50%. This is a political fact that cannot be ignored,” he said.
Macron urged moderate political groups to create a centrist force to defeat the far-right and far-left. “I hope that when the time comes, men and women of goodwill who will have been able to say no to the extremes will come together... will put themselves in a position to build a shared, sincere project that is useful to the country,” he said.
The French president also said planned electoral reforms in New Caledonia have been suspended.
Tensions deepened within the French Republicans party over party leader Éric Ciotti’s backing for an alliance with the far-right.
Hungarian opposition politician Péter Magyar has announced that Manfred Weber, the centre-right European People’s party leader, will visit Budapest on Friday for talks. Magyar’s Tisza party aims to join the EPP.
“No to the spirit of defeat,” Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media.
“I am confident in France and its future. Respect, calm and dignity, in the service of the country,” he added.
Non à l’esprit de défaite.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 12, 2024
Je suis confiant dans la France et son avenir. Respect, calme et dignité, au service du pays.
