Le Pen declares victory over Macron as Greek PM calls snap election
The French far-right, nationalist聽leader says the expected result "confirms the new nationalist-globalist division in France".
Monday 27 May 2019 04:48, UK
Marine Le Pen is claiming victory in the European Parliament election over pro-EU French President Emmanuel Macron.
The far-right, nationalist leader said the expected result in France "confirms the new nationalist-globalist division in France and beyond".
French polling agencies are projecting that Ms Le Pen's National Rally party will come first in France's voting on Sunday, followed by Mr Macron's centrist Republic on the Move party.
Ms Le Pen also expressed hope that the election could foreshadow her party's victory in the France 2022 presidential election after she was beaten by Mr Macron in France's 2017 presidential vote.
She called on Mr Macron to dissolve the French parliament.
But Mr Macron's party is pledging to combat nationalists at the European Parliament and block them from weakening France.
The French president said National Rally represents the "leprosy" of nationalism that is eating the EU from within.
Nathalie Loiseau, the lead candidate of Mr Macron's centrist party, urged all pro-European forces to "unite to defend the interests of the Europeans" and not let the European Union fall into the hands of "those who want to unbuild it".
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said he will continue to implement Mr Macron's policies and planned reforms.
Meanwhile, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has called a snap national election following his party's European election loss.
Speaking from the Syriza party offices, Mr Tsipras said that "the results does not rise to our expectations... I will not ignore it or quit".
Mr Tsipras added that he will visit the Greek president to request the early dissolution of parliament after the second round of local and regional elections on 2 June.
Four hundred million Europeans were eligible to vote in the elections and around half cast their ballot, a bloc-wide estimate showed on Sunday. It is the first time turnout has risen in four decades of continent-wide voting.
Some commentators claimed the increased enthusiasm was a response to challenges ranging from climate change to the rise in eurosceptic parties.