French elections: How do they work and why are they so significant?

The far right could win parliamentary elections called by President Macron on 30 June and 7 July.

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He wants to regain control of French politics, but that’s not what the opinion polls say will happen.

An hour after the far-right National Rally party of Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen trounced Emmanuel Macron’s Renew alliance in European elections, the French president went on TV to say he couldn’t act as if nothing had happened.

After National Rally had scored 31.4% of the vote to his party’s 14.6%, he said it was time for France’s people and politicians “who do not recognise themselves in the extremist fever” to build a new coalition.

Mr Macron had no need to call National Assembly elections as they were last held in June 2022 and no further vote was due until 2027. He has since insisted it was the "most responsible solution".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnkkng554w8o

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