Election shifts EU Parliament further right, prompting Macron to call snap polls

Far-right parties achieved significant gains in the European Parliament elections, shaking up traditional power structures and prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to call for snap legislative elections.

Macron’s party faced a severe defeat by the far-right National Rally party, while in Germany, support for Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats dropped to a projected 14%, falling behind the far-right Alternative for Germany, which surged to second place.

Millions of Europeans cast their votes for candidates to serve five-year terms in the new European Parliament, the legislative body of the 27-member trade bloc. Preliminary results from the elections, which concluded Sunday, showed the Christian Democrats gaining 189 seats (an increase of 13), the Social Democrats obtaining 135 seats (down 4), and the pro-business Renew group securing 83 seats (down 19). The Greens saw a decline, dropping to 53 seats (down 18).

**French Foreign Minister: Snap Election is Macron’s “Bet on Confidence” in the French People**

France’s foreign minister stated on Monday that President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for snap elections following the far-right’s victory in the European elections was a “bet on confidence in the French people” rather than a gamble. Stéphane Séjourné emphasized that Macron did not take the decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament lightly. The first round of early elections is scheduled for June 30, followed by a second round on July 7.

Séjourné mentioned that Macron’s coalition partners are currently discussing their election strategies and seeking cooperation with moderate forces on both the left and right to secure a win. He highlighted that it is up to the French people to decide on the country’s economic and political future.

**Greens and Left-Wing Parties Succeed in Nordic Nations**

Green and left-leaning parties emerged victorious in the three Nordic EU member states, highlighting the region’s focus on environmental issues. Sweden, Denmark, and Finland defied the broader EU trend of far-right parties gaining traction due to concerns over migration.

In Sweden, the far-right Sweden Democrats came in fourth place despite recent gains in support. In Denmark, pro-EU parties dominated, with the climate-friendly Socialist People’s Party making significant gains. Finland saw the governing conservative National Coalition Party win nearly 25% of the vote, while the Left Alliance also gained ground, and the populist Finns Party saw a decline.

**President of France’s National Assembly Supports Macron’s Decision**

Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France’s lower house of parliament, defended President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap elections. Braun-Pivet, a member of Macron’s Renaissance party, stated that the president acted promptly to address the voters’ message following the defeat by the far-right in the European elections. She emphasized that the president’s decision was a response to a clear vote by the French people.

**Austria’s Far-Right Party Celebrates First Nationwide Win**

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party celebrated a narrow victory in the European Parliament election, marking its first nationwide win. The Freedom Party secured 25.7% of the vote, followed by Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservative Austrian People’s Party with 24.7%, and the center-left Social Democrats with 23.2%. The Greens, coalition partners with Nehammer, obtained 10.7% of the vote.

Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl declared that the election result marked a historic moment for Austria, signaling the party’s intent to aim for the chancellor’s position in the upcoming national vote.

**Slovenia’s Right-Wing Opposition Wins Most Votes in EU Election**

In Slovenia, the right-wing opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) emerged as the top vote-getter in the EU elections, defeating the ruling liberal Freedom Movement of Prime Minister Robert Golob. SDS leader Janez Jansa, an ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, urged the ruling coalition to dissolve parliament and call for snap elections.

**Mainstream Conservatives Lead in Germany, Far-Right in Second Place**

Final results in Germany confirmed a victory for mainstream opposition conservatives, with the far-right Alternative for Germany party finishing in second place. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats suffered their worst post-World War II showing in a nationwide election, winning only 13.9% of the vote.

**Poland’s Centrist Party Wins Amid Far-Right Growth**

Poland’s centrist party, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, secured the most votes in the EU election, marking its first victory over the right-wing populist party in a decade. Tusk’s Civic Coalition took 37.1% of the vote, while the far-right Confederation achieved its best result ever, coming in third with 12.1%.

**Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s Party Wins Most Votes**

Initial projections in Italy indicate that Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party secured the most votes in the European parliamentary elections. The party is projected to have won 28.5% of the vote.

**Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán’s Party Leads in EU Election**

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party appeared set to win the most votes in the EU election, despite a decrease in support compared to the 2019 elections. Fidesz is projected to send 11 delegates to the European Parliament.

**Spain’s Opposition Conservatives Pull Ahead**

Spain’s opposition conservatives gained ground in the EU elections, with the far-right making significant gains. The right-wing Popular Party secured 34% of the vote, ahead of the governing Socialists, who received 30%.

**Czech Republic’s Euroskeptic Opposition Wins**

The centrist Euroskeptic ANO movement, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, won the EU election in the Czech Republic, defeating the center-right Together coalition.

**Dutch Far-Right Party Wins Big**

Geert Wilders’ far-right, anti-immigration Party for Freedom was the biggest winner in the Dutch EU elections, securing six seats.

**Slovakia’s Progressive Party Claims Victory**

The liberal and pro-Western Progressive Slovakia party won the EU election in Slovakia, topping the populist Smer party.

**France’s Marine Le Pen Declares Readiness to Govern**

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, expressed her readiness to govern following her party’s victory over President Macron’s centrists in the EU elections.

**Greece’s Center-Right Party Leads**

Greece’s center-right New Democracy party comfortably led in the EU elections, although with a lower percentage of the vote compared to previous elections.

**Cyprus’ Far-Right Party Wins First EU Seat**

Cyprus’ far-right ELAM party secured one of the country’s six seats in the European Parliament for the first time.

**Cypriot Influencer Secures EU Parliament Seat**

Popular YouTuber and TikToker Fidias Panayiotou surprised the political landscape in Cyprus by securing one of the six seats in the European Parliament through his social media influence alone.

**Macron Calls Snap Legislative Election**

Following a defeat in the EU elections, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for a snap legislative election. The first round is scheduled for June 30, followed by a second round on July 7.

**Croatia’s Ruling Conservatives Win Most Votes**

Exit polls in Croatia project the ruling conservatives, the Croatian Democratic Union, as the winners of the EU election, followed by the center-left Social Democratic Party and a newcomer far-right party.