Rattled Macron puts on brave face

French president 'confident in voters' after far-Right surge in EU elections

- Matt Watts and Jacob Phillips

FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron today said he has "confidence in the ability of the French people to make the fairest choice for themselves and for future generations" after calling a snap parliamentary election following disastrous results for his party in the country's EU vote.

The shock move to call the snap poll came as far-Right parties made big gains in European Parliament elections held across the continent, rattling the union's traditional powers. Marine le Pen's farRight party the National Rally won more than double the votes of Mr Macron's pro-European centrist Renew party in a humiliating defeat for the President. It won about 32 per cent of the European Parliament vote in France - a 10 point increase on the last election in 2019, with the Renew party projected to reach less than 15 per cent.

In an address to the nation from the Élysée presidential palace last night, Mr Macron said he "cannot act as if nothing had happened" so in response was calling the snap election.