French President Macron admits his decision for early elections in June led to political instability, taking full responsibility for the consequences and calling for greater European independence.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that his decision to call early parliamentary elections in June had created more political instability in France.
The speech concluded a turbulent 2024 for Macron, who shocked the country by calling for early elections midway through the year. This move backfired when the elections resulted in a hung parliament, with a substantial increase in far-right lawmakers, which weakened Macron’s influence.
"Lucidity and humility force (me) to recognize that at this stage, this decision has produced more instability than peace, and I fully own up to that," Macron said in a televised address ahead of the New Year celebrations.
"The dissolution caused more divisions in the Assembly than solutions for the French people," he added, marking his most direct acknowledgment of the consequences of the elections.
Macron had justified the early elections by pointing to a poor result in the European elections, arguing that they were necessary to "clarify" the political landscape. However, this gamble resulted in the loss of his parliamentary majority, and it took him two months to appoint a minority government, which collapsed in December—the first such collapse in France since 1962.
This failure led to France not passing the 2025 budget by the year-end deadline, and Macron had to appoint his fourth prime minister of the year, centrist veteran Francois Bayrou, in December.
Macron also hinted at the possibility of holding referendums in the coming year, though he did not explicitly mention them. He stated he would ask the French people to decide on "decisive" issues, but did not specify which ones.
The French constitution allows the president to initiate referendums.
Macron also referenced "citizen conventions," gatherings of randomly chosen citizens that lack binding power, which he has previously used to address issues like the yellow vest protests.
Finally, Macron called for greater European independence, emphasizing that the European Union could no longer depend on other powers for its security and defense, and must reject external trade laws.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points afte...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month, saying a second phase of the ...
At the Doha Forum, Assistant of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev and Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigor...
Residents in Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia, are facing rising diseases and limited medical care after cyclone-driven floods and landslides destroyed homes a...
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, u...
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Residents in Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia, are facing rising diseases and limited medical care after cyclone-driven floods and landslides destroyed homes and infrastructure.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
Japan said on Sunday that Chinese fighter jets directed fire control radar at Japanese military aircraft in two incidents near the Okinawa islands, calling the moves dangerous. China denied the allegation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment