Macron calls shock French elections after far-right rout

French President Emmanuel Macron called a snap national election after far-right gains in European Parliament voting dealt a blow to his centrist party. The vote reflected a rightward shift across Europe, with wins for nationalists in Italy and the mainstream conservative EPP remaining the biggest bloc. Germany’s Olaf Scholz also suffered losses to the right. The results raise uncertainty over the EU’s future direction on issues like security, climate change, and economic competition. Photo: Reuters