Extreme right parties are expected to win a record number of seats in the European Parliament.
After three days of voting in the 27 member states of the European Union, an exit poll showed that extreme right parties are likely to secure around 150 of the 720 seats in the parliament, which will probably make it more difficult for traditional parties to form the necessary majorities to pass laws.
The majority of the extreme right’s gains concentrated in countries that elect a large number of seats: France, Italy, and Germany.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the country’s parliament, the National Assembly, and called for early elections after a poll showed that his Renaissance party is expected to be defeated by the extreme right opposition.
After the initial projections, the extreme right party National Rally (RN) came out ahead with 31.5% of the votes, more than double the share of Renaissance, which came in second with 15.2% of the votes, just ahead of the socialists in third place with 14.3% of the votes.
In the French electoral system, parliamentary elections are held to elect the 577 members of the lower house, the National Assembly. Separate elections are held to choose the president of the country, which are only scheduled to take place in 2027.
In the last series of parliamentary elections held in 2022, the Ensemble coalition, including Macron’s Renaissance party, failed to secure an overall majority.
“I have decided to give them the choice of their parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly tonight,” Macron said in the historic announcement.
“This decision is serious, heavy. But it is above all an act of trust. Trust in yourselves, my dear compatriots. In the ability of the French people to make the fairest decision,” added the French president.
Source: CNN