Brussels (Brussels Mornong) – Far-right parties have made significant advancements at the European Union parliamentary elections, dealing pretty defeats to two of the bloc’s most influential leaders: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
What Setbacks Did Scholz Face in Germany?
In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was on the path to take second spot in Sunday’s EU Parliament election, according to forecasts from public broadcaster ARD, highlighting the party’s resilience ahead of next year’s federal election.Â
The Eurosceptic party was set to gain a record 16.5 per cent of the vote on Sunday, according to an exit poll posted by ARD. The conservatives, who are in opposition at the federal level, have been predicted to come first, rising slightly to 29.5 per cent. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the third coalition ally, the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), also fared poorly, anticipated to win 14 per cent and 5 per cent of the vote respectively, down from 15.8 per cent and 5.4 per cent in the prior election.
How Did National Rally Outperform Macron’s Party?
In France The far-right National Rally (RN) party confirmed 31,5% of votes in the European elections on Sunday, leaving behind President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance, according to first exit polls. Macron’s Renaissance party, guided by Valerie Hayer, acquired 15.2% of the votes — not even half of National Rally’s backing– a drop from the 22% it obtained in the 2019 elections. National Rally, on the other hand, witnessed an eight-point upsurge in support from the 23% it received five years ago.
Why Did Macron Announce the National Assembly Dissolution?
Amid the loss, President Macron reported he would dissolve the national assembly. “I can’t pretend that nothing has happened,” he said during a televised speech. Macron also cautioned that “the rise of the nationalists and demagogues is a threat not only to our nation but also to our Europe and France’s place in Europe and the world”.Â
What Was the Reaction of the National Rally to Their Victory?
The leader of the National Rally party, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, greeted the results “with very high spirit responsibility,” “humility,” and “gravity”. During a victory address in Paris, he said the result was a “clear message addressed to Emmanuel Macron and European leaders and marks our country’s resolve to see the European Union change direction.”
The president of the RN, Marine Le Pen, expressed that the French people have given “a very clear message” to Macron. “They no longer want a technocratic, above-ground European construction and increasingly brutal which denies its history, flouts its fundamental prerogatives and which results in a loss of influence, identity and freedom.”
The National Rally party tended to attract the electorate by “organising a national-looking campaign rather than a European one,” Francesco Sismondini, election polls Analyst, said. The party’s main attraction was to “pave their way” for the 2027 national elections, and “they made it,” he added.
How Did Place Publique and La France Insoumise Respond to the Election Results?
In third standing, the left-wing Place Publique, led by RaphaĂ«l Glucksmann, obtained 14% of votes. Shortly after the results were discharged, he said during a press meeting that he “does not have the soul to celebrate” as Europe witnesses a “wave which is profoundly shaking our democracies.” “Faced with the return of fighting in Europe and the advancement of the extreme right, we will stand up,” Glucksmann said.Â
La France Insoumise obtained 8.7% of votes, followed by The Republicans with 7,2% and Reconquête with 5.5%. The Greens obtained 5.2%. Head of The Greens, Marie Touissant, expressed the defeat is “dry” and “bitter” and unlocks doors to “all the risks”. “Faced with the war inflicted against ecology, we are going backwards,” Toussaint stated in a speech after the first results were reported.
