PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on December 31 that his decision to call early parliamentary elections in June had led to increased political instability in the country. In a rare moment of contrition, Macron admitted that the move, intended to clarify the political situation after a poor performance in European elections, had backfired.
The early elections resulted in a hung Parliament with a significant rise in far-right lawmakers, weakening Macron’s power. In a televised address, Macron stated, “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.”
The dissolution of the Assembly caused more divisions than solutions, leading to the collapse of the minority government in December, the first such occurrence in France since 1962. Consequently, France failed to approve a Budget for 2025, and Macron appointed his fourth prime minister in 2024, centrist veteran Francois Bayrou.
Macron also hinted at the possibility of using referendums in 2025 to address decisive issues, emphasizing the need for France to act with a long-term vision. On international matters, Macron urged the EU to be less naive in international trade and to take greater responsibility for its own security and defense, rather than relying on other powers.