The Rassemblement National (RN, far-right) used to constantly call for the dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale – but never counted on it. After each of her electoral victories, each jolt in French politics, Marine Le Pen called for the "return to the people" and, in the same breath, expressed regret that the president of the Republic – be it Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande or Emmanuel Macron – didn't dare to do it. On the evening of the European elections on Sunday, June 9, breaking the upbeat mood floating around a pavilion in the Bois de Vincennes, where Le Pen's party toasted to a historic score in the EU elections, with 31.5% for the list led by Jordan Bardella, that dissolution came without warning.
Right until Macron's announcement, Le Pen's special adviser, her brother-in-law Philippe Olivier, didn't believe it. The president "doesn't have the courage," he told Le Monde when the first rumors of dissolution were circulating. "He's going to stay in the role of commentator and annoy everyone," he said. His eyes fixed on Macron's face on the giant screen, slightly hidden behind the French flags and cameras. As Macron was talking, Olivier repeated, to himself and to the few journalists surrounding him: "I give you my word," that he won't do it, he said. Macron went on: "I've decided to give you the choice once again..." The crowd erupted with chants of "Dissolution! Dissolution!"
Olivier was groggy. He headed off to meet Le Pen and Bardella, who followed the results in a private room and who learned of the Elysée's decision shortly before Macron's speech. The speech prepared by Olivier for Le Pen did not include the possibility of a dissolution. A few changes were hastily made.
A quarter of an hour later, Le Pen comes out, flanked by Bardella, who had faded into the background by then, like his 31.5% score in the EU elections. She now had to project herself into the future, hammer home that the RN saw itself designated as an "alternative force" – the same phrase as after her victory in 2019 – and assure that the party was "ready." The substance of the speech doesn't change, but the deadline does. While the RN thought it had three years to prepare, it now has 20 days. Dizzying.
Was this the reason for Bardella's tense smile, a few steps behind Le Pen? For the past nine months, she has tried to ingrain the idea that Bardella would be a good candidate for prime minister. She won't say a word about it at the podium, but in her mind, nothing has changed, according to her party. If the RN wins the next legislative elections, she will decline any invitation from the president to form a government and demand that Bardella be given the job.
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