France's Macron gambles on snap election as far-right gains ground in EU Parliament vote

French President Emmanuel Macron's surprise decision to call a parliamentary election in his country followed a thumping defeat for his liberal centrist party in a European Union Parliament vote that saw a surge in support for far-right groups in some of the bloc's 27-member nations.

"I have confidence in the ability of the French people to make the fairest choice for themselves and for future generations," Macron said Monday. "My only ambition is to be useful to our country that I love so much."

Here's what just happened, why it matters and what's next.

First of all, what was the EU Parliament vote about?

The EU Parliament is the only institution in the economic and political union that's directly elected by an estimated 370 million eligible voters. Elections take place every five years and are entirely separate to national votes held by EU member states. Sunday's continent-wide vote saw 720 lawmakers elected.

Most EU lawmakers ? known as MEPs ? join one of seven major EU Parliament groupings or parties based on their political affinities and leanings. Some are also independent. Others are non-aligned.

Preliminary results showed the center-right European People's Party scored the most seats in the weekend vote, with more than 180. Collectively, center, center-right and center-left groups won more than 55% of the vote. But far-right nationalist parties scored sizable victories in Austria, Germany and Italy, winning almost a quarter of the chamber's seats. Left-wing and green parties made gains in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

In France, Macron suffered a stinging defeat as voters backed Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally over his centrist Renew party by about 32% to 15%. Renew was on track to lose 23 seats in the EU Parliament.

Why did Macron announce a vote and when will it be held?

In theory, the EU Parliament vote has no direct influence on national elections by EU member states.

Still, Macron said as he announced France's snap vote, he "cannot act as if nothing happened." He said calling for the vote reflected his "confidence in our democracy, in letting the sovereign people have their say."

The first round will be held on June 30, with a runoff on July 7. It comes just before France is due to host the Summer Olympic Games, which begin July 26. Macron's role as president is not at risk. His term does not expire before 2027. But France could get a new prime minister, an appointed role and the second-highest office in the country that by convention is more concerned with domestic affairs.

Le Pen's National Rally said its contender for prime minister if it wins a majority in the French vote would be 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, its telegenic lead candidate in the EU elections. Bardella campaigned on an anti-immigration message, increased national border controls and dialing back EU climate rules.

"This unprecedented rout for those in power marks the end of a cycle, and day 1 of the post-Macron era," Bardella said Sunday, writing on the the social media platform X. "Our desire is to bring together all French people wishing to initiate the recovery of the Nation and to allow France to reconnect with hope."

A surprise vote ? and some risk for France and the EU

In addition to potentially handing major political power to a far-right party in France for the first time, Macron's unexpected decision to call the vote, France's first snap election since 1997, could affect his ability to pursue his agenda for the remaining years of his presidency, according to officials and political analysts.

As head of one of the biggest member states in the EU and its sole nuclear power, Macron has long had an ambitious agenda for France at the heart of the EU. That agenda includes overturning an anti-EU, anti-immigration populist wave that has threatened to overtake the bloc; increasing Europe's technological and business competitiveness; and taking more responsibility for its own security, including boosting its military capabilities so that it can support Ukraine in its war with Russia no matter who wins the next U.S. election.

"This will be the most consequential parliamentary election for France and for the French in the history of the Fifth Republic,” the finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, told RTL, a French commercial radio station. "We must fight for France and for the French."

Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, said in emailed comments that the results of the EU Parliament elections threaten the bloc's political stability more broadly.

"In a turbulent time for the global economy, only a strong EU can vigorously defend European interests," he said. "The strong performance of populist and Euro-sceptic parties in particular does not make this any easier, but neither does it make it impossible."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: France's Macron gambles on snap election after EU parliament vote