The French presidential list score in the European elections ‘is not a good result for the parties which defend Europe’. So declared president Macron euphemistically on television last night to the French nation, as he called a snap election to be held on 30 June and 7 July. Even though official results are not yet in, according to exit polls the Rassemblement National has romped home on 32.4 per cent. Macron’s party is in a lamentable second place on 15.2 per cent (way behind its 22.4 per cent in 2019) and very closely tailed by the moderate socialist Raphaël Glucksmann on 14.3 per cent.

These European election results are a severe personal defeat for Macron

These European election results are a severe personal defeat for Macron. If there is one issue on which the wavering and inconsistent president has nailed his colours to the mast it is Europe. Adding insult to injury is the RN’s remarkable score.

Macron proclaimed loud and clear on his victory in 2017 that he would........

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