French President Emmanuel Macron has seen far-right parties triumph in voting for the European Parliament. He's responded by calling a snap election at home.
(Emmanuel Macron / French President)
“This decision is serious, a hard one. But it is, above all, an act of confidence ― confidence in you, my fellow citizens, in the capacity of the French people to make the fairest choice for themselves and for future generations.”
More and more Europeans have grown opposed to accepting immigrants. They've been unsettled by an economic slump and an energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine.
Voters delivered another majority to the three major centrist parties in the European Parliament. But many in France sided with the far-right National Rally. The group captured more than double the votes of Macron's Renaissance party.
Some voters say Macron is taking a chance.
(French Voter)
“The dissolution of the Assembly seems like a very dangerous game to me.”
◆snap election 解散(総)選挙
◆spark 火付け役となる、口火を切る