President Emmanuel Macron's surprise call for a snap election in the wake of a bruising defeat to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has sent shockwaves through France. The upcoming legislative vote, set to take place just weeks before the Paris Olympics, is being hailed as the most consequential in the country's history. By taking a risky political gamble, Macron hopes to regain the upper hand and keep the far-right at bay. Meanwhile, analysts predict a fierce showdown between Macron's dwindling popularity and the rising strength of the RN.
French Elections: Macron's Surprise Call for Snap Election
In a dramatic political move, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a snap legislative election, following his narrow victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the recent presidential election. The vote is set to take place in June, just weeks before the Paris Olympics.
Background
Macron's call for a snap election was a surprise to many, as he had previously ruled out the possibility. However, the election is seen as a strategic move by Macron to shore up his support in the National Assembly and prevent the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) from gaining further ground.
In the first round of the presidential election, Le Pen won a record number of votes for a far-right candidate, securing 23.1% of the vote. This raised concerns about the growing strength of the far-right in France.
Upcoming Election
The legislative election will be the first since Macron's re-election and will determine the composition of the National Assembly. Macron's centrist party, La République En Marche! (LREM), currently holds a majority in the assembly.
However, polls suggest that Macron's popularity has declined since his re-election, while the RN has been gaining support. Analysts predict a tight race between Macron's supporters and the RN, which could result in a hung parliament.
Macron's Gamble
Macron's decision to call a snap election is a risky gamble. If his party loses control of the National Assembly, he will face a difficult time passing legislation and governing effectively. However, a victory for LREM could strengthen Macron's position and give him a stronger mandate to implement his policies.
Top 5 FAQs on France's Election
Former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expresses confidence in the BJP's prospects in the Haryana Assembly elections, citing the significant voter turnout as a strong indicator of public support. He urges voters to exercise their right to vote and dismisses claims of opposition parties, emphasizing the importance of trusting the democratic process. Khattar also clarifies that Nayab Singh Saini would take over as Chief Minister if the BJP wins, continuing the party's leadership transition.
A traditional garba event in Indore, organized for the past 35 years, has been cancelled due to objections from right-wing groups who accused the organizer of promoting "love jihad". The controversy arose when a poster of one of the organizers, Firoz Khan, was put up in the city ahead of Navratri celebrations. The organizer has offered to leave the city for 10 days, while requesting permission for the Devi Pujan ceremonies to continue for nine days. This incident highlights the growing tensions and issues surrounding the concept of "love jihad" in India.
Royce White, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, is facing backlash after a resurfaced 2022 post on social media in which he referred to the Allied forces as "bad guys" in World War II. He has been criticized for his remarks and is currently trailing behind Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar in polls. White defended his statement, claiming that he was referring to post-war reconstruction and globalist interests benefiting from the democratic order established after the war.
The highly anticipated assembly elections in Haryana are underway, with voters heading to the polls to determine the fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other key candidates including Vinesh Phogat. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress is hoping to make a comeback after a decade. The state is also seeing intense competition from other parties such as AAP, INLD, BSP, JJP and Azad Samaj Party. Stay tuned to NDTV for live updates on the election results and follow the latest news from India and across the world.
In a bold move, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three legislators, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, jumped off the third floor of the state secretariat building in Mumbai to oppose the demand for the Dhangar community's inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. Fortunately, they landed safely on a net installed in the building to prevent suicide attempts. Officials confirmed that none of them sustained any injuries. The incident was a part of a larger protest by tribal MLAs in the Mantralaya complex during a cabinet meeting, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were present.
Amidst ongoing protests against the ST reservation demanded by the Dhangar community, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal reportedly attempted to jump from the third floor of the state secretariat building. The NCP MLA landed safely on a safety net, along with two other tribal legislators who also jumped in protest. The Ajit Pawar faction leader and other tribal MLAs were demanding that Dhangars not be given ST reservation and instead be given services under the PESA Act. The situation remains tense as discussions on the issue continue.
A division bench of the Telangana High Court has formed a committee to review disqualification petitions filed against three Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders who defected to the Congress. The High Court has also declined to stay a single-judge order warning the State assembly speaker of further court proceedings if he does not decide on the petitions. The case raises the question of whether the High Court can order a speaker to decide on disqualification petitions within a fixed time frame.
With the Haryana state legislative assembly elections around the corner, the Chief Electoral Officer urges voters to ensure their names are included in the voter list. While a voter ID card is the most commonly used identity document, the ECI has prescribed 12 alternative options, including Aadhaar card and Indian passport, for those without one. The voter list is available online and through a helpline number, with registration being mandatory in order to cast a vote. The upcoming elections will see a competition between the BJP, who secured 40 seats in the 2019 elections, and Congress, who won 30 seats.
In a significant move towards preserving and promoting Indian languages, the Union Cabinet has approved the classical language status for five more languages - Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision and highlighted the government's efforts to conserve and promote the classical languages. This decision has been welcomed by many, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who expressed gratitude to the Centre for including Assamese in the list. This move is aimed at honoring the historical significance of these languages and nurturing a deeper understanding among the younger generations.
Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, known for his provocative sermons, is scheduled to deliver lectures in Pakistan from October 5 to October 20. His arrival at the invitation of the Pakistani government has sparked concern over the potential consequences of his extremist ideology on a nation already grappling with fundamentalism and religious tensions. Naik's past teachings have been linked to violent extremism, with militants citing his lectures as motivation for carrying out attacks. With the Pakistani government failing to address these issues, Naik's presence is poised to exacerbate societal divisions and pose a serious threat to the country's minorities.