Emmanuel Macron 'could resign' after second round of disastrous French election that has seen the hard-right surge as allies warn 'unstable' president might step down entirely if he doesn't get a majority - paving the way for Marine Le Pen to take power
- Top aides and MPs have branded Macron as 'unpredictable' and 'unstable'
PresidentEmmanuel Macron'could resign' after the second round of disastrous Frenchelection,his top aides have warned.
Voting has begun in mainlandFrancetoday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory toMarine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock.
Macron took a huge gamble in dissolving parliament and calling for the elections after his centrists were trounced inEuropean electionson June 9.
The snap elections in this nuclear-armed nation will influence the war inUkraine,global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability, and are almost certain to undercut Macron for the remaining three years of his presidency.
Branding Macron as 'unpredictable' and 'unstable', one of his former top advisers has now claimed the President may resign after the election, tellingThe Telegraph:'I know the man – this is not science fiction.'
President Emmanuel Macron 'could resign' after the second round of disastrous French election, his top aides have warned. Macron is pictured leaving a polling station in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France on Sunday, July 7, 2024
Voting has begun in mainland France today in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision or produce a hung parliament and political deadlock. Le Pen is pictured during an interview in Paris on July 4, 2024
Macron, two weeks ago, penned a letter to the French public vowing that 'you can trust me to act as your president until May 2027'.
But now as he faces the final three years of his presidency with no clear majority, insiders, citing apparent erratic behaviour, suspect he may not fulfill the term.
'One day, [Macron] can make you a promise straight to your face, and the next day do the complete opposite. Completely the opposite,' one cabinet member told Le Parisien. 'So when he says: I'll never leave, I have my doubts.'
Another warned that Macron is 'capable of anything', citing how the President dissolved Parliament after 'he swore to us that he would not draw any national conclusions from the European elections.'
It is alleged that Macron privately applauded 'throwing an unpinned grenade' at France's political establishment after the dissolution.
'I don't know what's going on in his head. He's become elusive,' echoed another MP.
One senior cabinet member even questioned if Macron has 'lost touch with reality' after he popped champagne last weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday, despite the 'humiliating' results of the first round of the election.
'Our MPs are being wiped off the legislative map and he's taking a moment to toast with his mates. What's the next step?' the insider asked. 'He resigns, Le Pen is elected president, and a big ball is organised in the Elysée party room to celebrate his departure?'
Le Pen has called for Macron to step down if his party suffers a major defeat in the election, arguing 'the only way out of a potential political crisis is for the president to resign'.
Branding Macron as 'unpredictable' and 'unstable', one of his former top advisers has now claimed the President may resign after the election. Macron is pictured on Sunday as he casts his vote in the seaside town of Le Touquet
Over 49million people are registered to vote in the elections, which will determine which party controls the 577-member National Assembly, France's influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister. Pictured: Citizens cast their votes polling station in Paris today
The first round on June 30 saw the largest gains ever for the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally (NR), led by Le Pen.
Over 49million people are registered to vote in the elections, which willdetermine which party controls the 577-member National Assembly,France's influential lower house of parliament, and who will be prime minister.
If support is further eroded for Macron's weak centrist majority, he will be forced to share power with parties opposed to most of his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.
Voters at a Paris polling station were acutely aware of the the far-reaching consequences for France and beyond.
Racism and antisemitism have marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian cybercampaigns, and more than 50 candidatesreported being physically attacked, highly unusual for France.
The government is deploying 30,000 police on voting day.
The heightened tensions come while France is celebrating a very special summer: Paris is about to host exceptionally ambitious Olympic Games, the national soccer team reached the semi-final of the Euro 2024 championship, and the Tour de France is racing around the country alongside the Olympic torch.
France's prime minister Gabriel Attal cast his ballot in the Paris suburb of Vanves on Sunday morning.
Macron voted later in the seaside town of Le Touquet.
Le Pen is not voting, because her district in northern France is not holding a second round after she won the seat outright last week.
Across France, 76 other candidates secured seats in the first round, including 39 from her NR and 32 from the leftist New Popular Front alliance.
Two candidates from Macron's centrists list also won their seats in the first round.
One senior cabinet member warned that Macron 'can make you a promise straight to your face, and the next day do the complete opposite. Completely the opposite. So when he says: I'll never leave, I have my doubts.' Macron is pictured at the polling station in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage today
The elections wrap up on Sunday at 8pm in mainland France and on the island of Corsica. Initial polling projections are expected on Sunday night, with early official results expected late Sunday and early Monday.
Voters residing in the Americas and in France's overseas territories of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthelemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and French Polynesia voted on Saturday.
The elections could leave France with its first far-right government since the Nazi occupation in the Second World War if the NR wins an absolute majority and its 28-year-old leader Jordan Bardella becomes prime minister.
The partycame out on top in the previous week's first-round voting,followed by a coalition of centrr-left, hard-left and Green parties, and Macron's centrist alliance.
