French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and called for a snap legislative election after his party’s significant defeat in the European Parliament elections.

In his address from the Elysee Palace, Macron stated, “I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote,” setting the election dates for June 30 and July 7.

This decision follows projections showing the far-right National Rally party leading over Macron’s pro-European centrists in the European Union parliamentary elections, the Associated Press has reported.

Written by B.C. Begley