During Emmanuel Macron’s speech in the RN headquarters in Paris on June 9, 2024, the urgency of preventing the far right from coming to power in France in three weeks, rather than three years, was emphasized. With twenty days remaining before the first round of legislative elections, Macron has been forced to dissolve the National Assembly, a move described as a gamble or a risk by commentators. The future of French democracy and the country’s image in the eyes of European allies during times of war and climate crisis will be decided hastily on June 30 and July 7, with Macron losing control of the situation even before the European election results.
The European election results showed the RN’s victory over Macron’s party, with extreme right-wing voices dominating the polls. Macron’s campaign was criticized for its arrogance and clumsiness, alienating voters who were ready to turn to protest voting. The reasons given by the Elysée for the dissolution, such as using the war in Ukraine or the history of the Allied D-Day as communication tactics, are seen as counterproductive. Macron now faces the challenge of reducing the far-right vote without addressing the deeper issues fueling its rise beyond immigration concerns.
Macron’s party is now exposed to the consequences of their failure to maintain a strong majority in past elections, leading to risks of dissolution and the potential rise of the Le Pen family in power. The betrayal of the principle of the republican front two years ago cost Macron valuable support in parliament, making it difficult to regain trust from the electorate. This betrayal is now a key issue for all political parties seeking to prevent the far-right influence from growing in France.
The rise of the far-right in France is a long-term issue that exceeds Macron’s tenure in office, with multiple failures and setbacks contributing to the current political crisis. The right-wing party’s poor performance in the elections indicates a self-destructive trend, while the left struggles to unite against the far-right threat. Despite some encouraging signs from the Glucksmann list, the left must overcome internal divisions and focus on issues such as climate justice, urban development, public services, and consumerism to effectively combat the far-right surge.
The current political landscape in France requires a united front against the far-right, with the possibility of meaningful change dependent on the actions of all political actors. The left, in particular, must come together to address the root causes of far-right support and present a viable alternative to voters. Whether Macron’s risky move to dissolve the National Assembly can lead to a shift in the political dynamics remains to be seen, but the urgency of the situation demands concerted efforts from all parties to prevent a far-right takeover of the government.
