French President Emmanuel Macron faced severe embarrassment following a significant setback in the recent European Parliament elections. Kremlin pundits wasted no time mocking Macron, whose anti-Russian party suffered a considerable defeat.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the election results, noting the growing influence of right-wing parties.
“Despite the fact that, so far, pro-European parties retain their leading position, with time right-wing parties will be snapping at their heels,” Peskov said, highlighting the shifting political landscape within the European Union.
Vyacheslav Volodin, head of Russia’s State Duma, took to Telegram to further ridicule Macron and also took aim at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Macron and Scholz are clinging on to power with their last remaining strength,” Volodin wrote, adding: “The right thing for them to do would be to resign and stop making a mockery of their citizens.”
Volodin attributed the election outcomes in France and Germany to several factors, including economic stagnation, a migration crisis, and involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
He argued that these issues have left European leaders vulnerable and disconnected from their citizens’ interests.
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin analyst and former Kremlin adviser, also connected Macron’s defeat to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a bold claim, Markov suggested that the French electorate’s dissatisfaction with Macron was due to his support for the war. “I hope Macron understands that the French are rejecting him for fanning the war against Russia in Ukraine,” Markov quipped. He further speculated that Macron might escalate the situation by provoking a NATO conflict with Russia.
The European Parliament elections saw a notable surge in support for the far-right in France, led by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally.
In response to this political shift, Macron called for a snap legislative election, acknowledging the need to address the new political reality.
His pro-European party’s poor performance, garnering less than half the support of the National Rally, has forced Macron to reconsider his approach.
By dissolving parliament and calling for new elections, Macron aims to rally voters against the far-right in national elections.
However, the move carries significant risks, as it could pave the way for the far-right to lead the government for the first time since World War II. With three years remaining in his term, Macron may find himself having to collaborate with a prime minister from a party fundamentally opposed to his policies.
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