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.
Controversy continues within the French Republicans, as tensions mount over the role of the party’s leader, Éric Ciotti, who has backed an alliance with the far-right.
💬 "On doit mettre hors d'état de nuire Éric Ciotti de son parti politique"
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) June 12, 2024
Agnès Evren, sénatrice LR de Paris s'exprime à son arrivée au bureau politique de son parti pic.twitter.com/oMynoz9mr8
EPP's Weber to visit Budapest for talks with Péter Magyar
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.
Tisza, Magyar’s party, aims to join the EPP.
The new party won 7 seats in the European elections, second in Hungary only to Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, which took 11 seats.
57% of French voters would want Emmanuel Macron to resign if his camp is defeated in the legislative elections, according to a new poll by the CSA Institute, conducted for CNEWS, Europe 1 and JDD.
Clare Daly, Ireland’s outspoken and controversial Dublin MEP candidate, has lost her seat despite celebrity endorsements from Annie Lennox, Susan Sarandon and other prominent figures.
The leftwing candidate was eliminated on Tuesday after falling behind rivals in the Dublin constituency on the 17th count.
During her stint at the European parliament, Daly denounced western “militarism” and was accused of giving succour to Vladimir Putin and other dictators, which she denied. She gained a big following on social media platforms and often appeared on state-leaning media in China and Russia.
Read the full story here, by Rory Carroll and Lisa O’Carroll
IOC urged to help overturn French headscarves ban at Olympics
Human rights groups have called on the International Olympic Committee to help overturn a ban on French athletes wearing headscarves, arguing that the prohibition had left many Muslim athletes being “invisibilised, excluded and humiliated”.
The call, outlined in a letter published by organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, comes less than two months before the Olympics and Paralympics are set to begin in Paris.
The issue of athletes and headscarves at the Olympics, however, has long rumbled in the background in the lead-up to the Games. Last September, France’s minister for sport highlighted the government’s commitment to secularism to explain that athletes representing France would be barred from displaying religious symbols, including headscarves, during sporting events.
Here’s a summary of Macron’s comments at a press conference today:
After a big loss in the European election and his decision to call for snap legislative elections later this month, the French president sought to position his camp as the only option that represents the republic’s values, criticising groups both to his right and left.
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.
The president also said: “I do not want to give the keys to power to the extreme right in 2027, so I fully accept having triggered a movement to provide clarification.”
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.
He also reiterated that he will not resign if his camp does not win in the snap legislative elections.
The president said France must continue to act for greater security “and implement the laws that have been passed, like our European texts, to reduce illegal immigration.”
Éric Ciotti, the embattled leader of the French Republicans, has defended his move to close down the party’s headquarters, citing security concerns.
J'entends beaucoup d'élucubrations sur la fermeture du siège LR.
— Eric Ciotti (@ECiotti) June 12, 2024
J'ai pris cette décision à la suite des menaces reçues et des désordres d'hier.
Je dois garantir la sécurité du personnel.
De surcroît, aucune réunion n'a jamais été prévue au siège cet après-midi. https://t.co/YdkTikAseC
Macron's presser ends
Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his press conference with a passionate plea rejecting a spirit of defeat.
He painted the two extremes of the political spectrum as not being in line with the French Republic’s values.
Updated
New Caledonia reforms suspended, Macron announces
Speaking to reporters today, Emmanuel Macron said planned electoral reforms in New Caledonia have been suspended.
Protests and deadly violence broke out in the French overseas territory in the South Pacific in May after lawmakers in Paris approved a constitutional amendment to allow recent arrivals to the territory to vote in provincial elections. France had launched a major security operation in a bid to quell the violence.
“The constitutional project on the electorate in New Caledonia has been suspended,” Macron said.
Regina Doherty was also elected from Ireland.
I am delighted to have been elected as an MEP for Dublin. Thank you so much to everyone for all your support. I intend to work hard and repay your trust. Today I am in Brussels for meetings with the @EPPGroup and to get started on my work representing the great people of Dublin🔵 pic.twitter.com/lPjlRzARrA
— Regina Doherty (@ReginaDo) June 12, 2024
Macron today said there’s a need “to launch a great debate on secularism in France.”
He also said France needs “to take simple, everyday decisions such as enabling the state to regain control on the issue of unaccompanied minors, who are a security problem in so many towns,” Reuters reported.
Updated
Voters are facing a choice between “unholy alliances at the two extremes who agree on almost nothing except handing out jobs” versus the presidential bloc with “a single vision of the country” both at home and abroad, Macron said at the press conference.
We aren’t perfect... but we’ve got results.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has won a seat in the European parliament, moving the Socialists and Democrats group to 136 seats.
+1⃣
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) June 12, 2024
Very pleased to welcome @AodhanORiordain to our Group 🇪🇺🌹🇮🇪 Our newly elected Irish MEP adds another nationality to our S&D family, expanding our reach ever further across Europe.
We are now 136! pic.twitter.com/hCd3MlHWC1
Updated
Macron is presenting the snap elections as a choice between the far-right and democratic forces that can govern.
Manfred Weber, the centre-right European People’s party leader, has said the elections “give us a strong mandate for our great candidates and for our programme.”
Our @EPPGroup family united today, welcoming our strong EPP leaders @vonderleyen and @RobertaMetsola.
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) June 12, 2024
The 🇪🇺 elections give us a strong mandate for our great candidates and for our programme. pic.twitter.com/VZq99qFUL0
Macron is now defending his decision to call a snap legislative election.
He also reiterated that he will not resign if his camp does not win in the snap legislative elections.
Addressing resignation rumours, he said:
I want to nip that one in the bud, it never existed.
"C'est absurde": Emmanuel Macron exclut l'idée d'une démission en cas de défaite aux législatives pic.twitter.com/CrEJcuHdeI
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) June 12, 2024
Updated
After a speech arguing that his camp offers a coherent and realistic vision for France, Macron is now taking questions from the press.
Updated
The presidential camp has a coherent vision on Ukraine, the Middle East and France’s place in Europe, Macron said, criticising the political extremes’ foreign policy positions.
Macron is addressing issues such as salaries and access to housing.
He argued that other parties’ proposals on pensions would mean bankruptcy of the system.
Updated
The French president is speaking about investing in public services.
Macron is now speaking about economic goals.
Macron calls for democratic parties to join his camp in bid to defeat extremes
Speaking at a press conference, Emmanuel Macron said that in Sunday’s vote in the European election citizens have expressed their concerns and difficulties. We must bring a democratic response, he said.
Returning to the sovereign people is, in my opinion, the only republican decision in this context.
It’s an historic moment for France, Macron said. Since Sunday night, the masks have fallen, he added, pointing to the Republican leader’s announcement that he is backing an alliance with the far-right.
Do we think that (Republicans party leader) Mr. Ciotti - and The Republicans who follow him - who up until now explained that the ruling majority was too lax and that we needed to rein in our public spending faster, would govern effectively with the (far-right) National Rally, whose program has been independently costed at about 100 billion euros a year for our taxpayers?
Rejecting the extremes, Macron said that his side can act, arguing that there’s a need for a dialogue and reflection on how to best serve France.
We must, first and foremost, continue relentlessly to act for greater security and (state) firmness, and implement the laws that have been passed, like our European texts, to reduce illegal immigration.
He called for social democrats, greens and christian democrats to unite for a governing pact.
The president said he wants “men and women of good will who were able to say ‘no’ to extremes to join together to be able to build a joint project.”
He called on “many of our compatriots and political leaders who do not recognise themselves in the extremist fever” to “build a new project ... a coalition to govern, a coalition to act in the service of the French and for the republic”.
Updated
Emmanuel Macron speaks to the press
Macron has arrived.
Updated
The delay to Macron’s presser led some French television reporters to joke about how unsurprised they were at the president running late.
There is uncertainty about what he will say, French media says.
As a reminder, this was the outcome of the European election in France.
We are waiting for Emmanuel Macron’s press conference to start. Stay tuned.
He will start with an introduction, and then take questions.
Updated
The crisis inside France’s Republicans is continuing.
Many within the party were outraged when party leader Éric Ciotti backed an alliance with the far-right National Rally in the snap legislative elections later this month – and a meeting has been called to decide on whether to remove Ciotti.
More fallout in French centre-right
Vincent Jeanbrun announced he is quitting as the Republicans’ spokesperson.
Je quitte mes fonctions de porte-parole des Républicains. pic.twitter.com/Ta2o317GkA
— Vincent Jeanbrun (@VincentJeanbrun) June 12, 2024
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog, where we will be looking at the latest reactions and fallout from the European elections.
Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
Macron to speak amid political disarray
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, will be holding a press conference this morning, after a tumultuous few days in French politics.
The far-right National Rally won the European election in France by a wide margin, prompting Macron to call a snap legislative election.
The move then led politicians across the spectrum to scramble to form new alliances and prepare for the two-round vote, scheduled for 30 June and 7 July.
Yesterday, the leader of France’s mainstream right Republicans, Éric Ciotti, said he would back an alliance with the far right in the elections, shocking some political figures both inside and outside his party. His future in the party is now unclear.
