From power play to gamble, the history of snap elections in France

A child waits in a polling station in Paris during the second round of parliamentary elections of 30 June 1968. For many, the snap polls coincided with summer holidays - hence the suitcases. © AFP

It's been almost 30 years since a French president dissolved parliament and called snap elections, as Emmanuel Macron did on Sunday. When France votes for a new legislature at the end of the month, it will be only the sixth time the country has done so in its post-war history.

France's constitution allows the president – after consulting the prime minister and the speakers of both houses of parliament – to dissolve the National Assembly, the lower house that is directly elected by French voters, and hold fresh polls within 40 days.