Far-right parties made significant gains in the European Union parliamentary elections, dealing a notable defeat to French President Emmanuel Macron, Associated Press reports.
The elections saw a shift to the right, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party doubling its seats, and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) overcoming scandals to surpass Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won decisively in France, prompting Macron to dissolve the national parliament and call for new elections.
The Christian Democrats, led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, remained the largest group, benefiting from their rightward shift on migration and climate issues. This election outcome challenges the traditional pro-European dominance, with the far-right now poised to influence policies on migration, security, and climate.
