Flash Points: What to know as France votes

Will Macron’s risky bet lead to a far-right victory? JUNE 30, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     [French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference in Paris on June 12.]( French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference in Paris on June 12. Pierre Suu/Getty Images Less than an hour after the European Parliament election results were announced on June 9, French President Emmanuel Macron unexpectedly called a snap election. That election begins today as France goes to the polls for the first of two rounds of voting, which will determine the 577 members of the lower house of parliament. In the European Parliament elections, France’s far-right National Rally party made major gains, far outperforming Macron’s centrist Renaissance party. Now, observers are wondering: How likely is it that the far right will win? What was Macron thinking? And how does France’s political instability fit into the trend of right-wing populism in Europe? This edition of Flash Points provides all you need to know about Macron’s risky bet as French voters cast their ballots.—Chloe Hadavas   [1]( [What Was Macron Thinking?]( France’s president is forcing voters to decide if they really want the National Rally in power—and betting that governing could dent the far-right’s popularity before 2027. By Robert Zaretsky   [2]( [What Would a Far-Right Victory Mean for French Foreign Policy?]( Cohabitation would test France’s approach toward Ukraine, Israel, NATO, and the EU. By Célia Belin, Mathieu Droin   [3]( [Macron Is Destroying His Democracy to Save It]( Why France’s president has decided to embrace electoral chaos. By Emile Chabal   [4]( [Why Are French Jews Supporting the Far Right?]( Prominent Jewish figures are publicly entertaining what was once considered unthinkable: voting for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. By Robert Zaretsky   [5]( [Is Europe’s Turn to the Right Here to Stay?]( Right-wing populists did well in the EU Parliament elections. Now France’s president is testing the public’s appetite for being governed by them. By Emma Ashford, Matthew Kroenig   [Biden-Trump Debate]( The first presidential debate of 2024 took place on 6/27. Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, and Gideon Rachman, the chief foreign affairs commentator at the Financial Times, joined FP Live on 6/28 to discuss foreign-policy takeaways. [WATCH ON-DEMAND](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's Flash Points newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2024 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.