Macron dissolves lower parliament house, appoints early elections

French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, and announced early elections, Report informs referring to TASS.

"France needs a clear parliamentary majority to act calmly in accord," he said in a televised address to the nations. "I appoint early parliamentary elections. The first round will be held on June 30 and the second one - on July 7."

This statement can be seen as the acknowledgement of a crushing defeat of the presidential Renaissance Party at the elections to the European Parliament, where it won less votes (15.4%) than the opposition National Rally Party (32%).

Last time, the lowe house was dissolved by President Jacques Chirac in 1997.