Dramatic evening across the EU capped by Macron bombshell

Exit polls began pouring in at the end of the European elections in the 27 EU countries, when President Emmanuel Macron delivered a bombshell televised speech to a stunned French population.

“I have decided to return to you by a vote the choice of our parliamentary future. I therefore dissolve the National Assembly. » did he declare.

The National Rally – led by Mr Macron’s rivals Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella – was one of the big gains expected by Europe’s far-right parties, and confirmation came with all the exit polls ballot boxes giving the party more than 30%, double that figure. of Mr. Macron’s centrist Renaissance.

But beyond France, the broader story of Europe’s four-day electoral marathon really belonged to the center-right parties.

They have tightened their grip on the European Parliament, with victories in Germany and Spain, and significant advances in Hungary, against the long-dominant Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.

The far right has not seen as significant a rise in power across Europe as many had predicted.

In the The NetherlandsGeert Wilders’ Freedom Party came second, while Austria’The party of the same name emerged victorious, but barely.

“The center is holding, but it is also true that the extremes of left and right have gained support,” said Ursula von der Leyen, center-right head of the European Commission.

“And this is why the result implies great responsibility for the center parties.”

There had been talk before the vote that his dominant European People’s Party might consider talks with the two right-wing groups that house the far right.

But she made clear that her only allies would be the Socialists & Democrats and the liberal Renew group which includes Mr Macron’s party.

GermanyThe opposition Conservatives were always going to win, and they received an impressive 30% of the vote.

But for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD party, it was the worst result ever recorded in a European election, coming third behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The AfD has suffered a series of scandals involving espionage, foreign interference and allegations of Nazi sympathies, and yet its support has always held.

“After all the doomsday prophecies, after the barrage of the last few weeks, we are the second most powerful force. And I tell you, the only way is up,” said co-leader Alice Weidel.

Meanwhile, a new anti-migrant far-left party, BSW, led by charismatic left-wing firebrand Sahra Wagenknecht, also performed well – capping a good evening for the radical parties.

In SpainThe center-right opposition People’s Party (PP) defeated Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists, but not by the big margin that PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo had hoped for.

Another far-right party, Vox, comes a distant third.

Meanwhile at ItalyGiorgia Meloni’s domination of the country’s politics continues.

His far-right Brothers of Italy beat Elly Schlein’s center-left Democratic Party by less than four points.

“Thank you to the Italians who continue to choose us… I am proud of tonight’s result,” she told her supporters.

In just five years, Ms Meloni more than doubled her party’s seats in the European Parliament, while Ms Schlein’s performance pleasantly surprised even party activists.

There was no far-right success Belgiumin the national elections, although the Flemish separatist party Vlaams Belang was widely expected to win.

The Flemish National Alliance is now the dominant party there, ending the reign of liberal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

“The far right underperformed in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland and Poland. But he outperformed in France,” said Professor Alberto Alemanno of HEC Paris, surprised that President Macron decided to dissolve Parliament.

“It is disproportionate that these election results could push a government to leave a country,” he told the BBC.