French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a snap election following disastrous results for his party in the recent municipal elections. The results were a major blow to Macron’s La République En Marche (LREM) party, with many key cities and regions falling to opposition parties.
In a press conference following the election results, Macron announced his decision to dissolve the National Assembly and call for a snap election. He cited the need for a fresh mandate from the French people in order to push through his ambitious reform agenda.
The announcement comes after weeks of protests and strikes against Macron’s government, with many French citizens expressing dissatisfaction with his policies on issues such as pension reform and climate change. The election results were seen as a clear rebuke of Macron’s leadership, with many voters opting for opposition parties such as the far-right National Rally and the left-wing France Insoumise.
In a related development, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has announced his resignation after his party suffered major losses in the recent federal elections. Michel’s liberal party, MR, lost ground to both the left and right-wing parties, leading to a hung parliament and uncertainty about the future of the Belgian government.
Michel’s resignation comes as a surprise, as he had previously expressed confidence in his ability to lead a coalition government following the election. However, the results have made it clear that Michel’s party no longer has a mandate to govern, leading to his decision to step down.
The political turmoil in both France and Belgium highlights the growing dissatisfaction among European voters with established political parties and leaders. Macron and Michel both came to power promising to bring change and reform, but have faced significant challenges in implementing their agendas.
As both countries now face the prospect of new elections and potential changes in leadership, the future of European politics remains uncertain. The rise of populist and nationalist parties across the continent has already reshaped the political landscape, and these recent developments only add to the uncertainty and volatility in European politics.