France’s political parties are racing to discuss possible alliances after President Emmanuel Macron’s shock decision to call a snap election, with an ally of the president calling it the “most consequential” election in decades.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) trounced the president’s alliance in European parliamentary elections, with 31 per cent of the vote. Mr Macron’s centrist ticket won just 15 per cent. As the European Union reeled in the wake of Sunday’s results, which saw the far right score wins in Belgium and Austria, and second-place finishes in Germany and the Netherlands, it was the fallout in France which truly set alarm bells ringing across the continent.
