Macron Pledges Change of Governance Style as Opponent Eyes Parliament Rout

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged a"change" of governing style regardless of who wins the snap elections he called, as fresh polls indicated his centrist party may once again be defeated by the far right.

Macron, however, insisted he would finish out his term until 2027, defying calls from opponents to step down in case the far-right National Rally (RN) comes out on top.

In an open letter published in the French Media, Macron said, "The goal cannot be to just continue as things were. I have heard that you want change," noting in particular his administration's "much stronger and firmer responses" on "insecurity and impunity"

"You can trust me to act until May 2027 as your president, protector at every moment of our republic, our values, respectful of pluralism and your choices, at your service and that of the nation," he added.

Marine Le Pen, the National Rally's figurehead, said that Macron's resignation could be the only solution to avoid a lame-duck presidency for the remaining three years of his term.

Her comments came as two new opinion polls released showed the RN with 35-36% of voting intentions as the first round looms on June 30. They lead a left-wing alliance at 27-29.5%, with Macron's centrists in third at 19.5-22%.

That would put the far right within reach of an absolute majority of at least 289 seats - and open a combative period of "cohabitation" government in which the president and prime minister hail from rival parties.

Macron acknowledged that his decision to call the snap polls had generated for some voters "anger that has turned against me".
But Macron insisted that the coming vote, with a second round on 7 July, was "neither a presidential election nor a vote of confidence in the president of the republic".

Instead, it was a chance to answer "a single question: who should govern France?"

"The incoming government, which will necessarily reflect your vote, will I hope resemble the various republicans who will have shown the courage to oppose the extremes", he said.

In the EU Parliament election earlier this month, the far right finished first in France at 31.5% of the vote, double the 15% for Macron's centrist Renaissance.

Opinion polls suggest the RN is set to achieve its best-ever score in the legislative vote, potentially giving it a shot at naming a prime minister, most likely its telegenic young party chief Jordan Bardella.