By Sama Marwan,

In his New Year’s address, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that his decision to dissolve parliament in 2024 and call for early elections had backfired, leading to increased political instability. The June elections resulted in a hung parliament with a significant rise in far-right representation, complicating governance and weakening his administration.

Macron admitted that the dissolution caused “more divisions in the Assembly than solutions for the French people” and accepted full responsibility for the resulting instability.

To address the ongoing political challenges, Macron suggested that French citizens would be asked to “decide on certain crucial issues” in 2025, hinting at the possibility of referendums without specifying the topics.

Internationally, he emphasized the need for the European Union to adopt a firmer stance on trade and reduce dependencies on other nations, advocating for Europe to bolster its own security and defense capabilities.

Despite the political turmoil, Macron highlighted positive achievements, including the successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral.