Shock in France as Emmanuel Macron dissolves parliament, calls election

French President Emmanuel Macron has stunned the nation by announcing he would dissolve parliament and hold a snap election amid surging support for the far-right.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he is dissolving parliament and calling snap legislative elections after the far-right trounced his centrist alliance in European Union polls.

The first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7, Mr Macron announced in an address to the nation early this morning.

The outcome of the EU elections, he acknowledged, is “not a good result for parties who defend Europe”.

Emmanuel Macron informs France in a televised address the National Assembly would be dissolved and new elections held. Picture: Ludovic Marin/AFP

Mr Macron noted that, including the top scoring National Rally (RN), far-right parties in France managed to take almost 40 per cent of the vote in the EU elections in France.

“Far right parties... are progressing everywhere in the continent. It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself,” he said.

“I decided to give you the choice... Therefore I will dissolve the National Assembly tonight.

“This decision is serious and heavy but it is an act of confidence. Confidence in you, dear compatriots, and in the capacity of the French people to make the best choice for itself and future generations.”

French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party leader Marine Le Pen. Picture: Julien De Rosa/AFP

The RN’s list, led by Jordan Bardella, 28, gained between 32.3 and 33 per cent of the vote compared with 14.8 to 15.2 per cent for Mr Macron’s alliance led by his Renaissance party, according to projections from several polling firms.

Macron warned on Thursday the EU risked being “blocked” by a big far-right presence in the European Parliament after this week’s elections.

The election results also mark a critical moment as eyes turn to France’s 2027 presidential vote where Mr Macron cannot stand again and RN figurehead Marine Le Pen fancies she has her best-ever chance of winning the Elysee Palace.