French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he is dissolving parliament and called snap legislative elections after the far-right defeated his centrist alliance in EU polls.
The first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly will take place on 30 June, with the second round on 7 July, Mr Macron announced in an address to the nation.
The outcome of the EU elections, he acknowledged, is "not a good result for parties who defend Europe".
Mr Macron noted that, including the top scoring National Rally (RN), polls suggest far-right parties in France managed to take almost 40% of the vote in the EU elections in France.
He said: "Far right parties ... are progressing everywhere in the continent.
"It is a situation to which I cannot resign myself.
"I decided to give you the choice... Therefore I will dissolve the National Assembly."
He accused the far right of representing "the impoverishment" and "downgrading" of France.
Mr Macron said the decision was "serious and heavy".
"but it is an act of confidence," he said.
"Confidence in you, dear compatriots, and in the capacity of the French people to make the best choice for itself and future generations," he added.
The RN's list, led by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, gained between 32.3% and 33% of the vote compared with 14.8% to 15.2% for Mr Macron's alliance led by his Renaissance party, according to projections from several polling firms.
Mr Macron warned Thursday that the EU risked being "blocked" by a big far-right presence in the European Parliament after this week's elections.
Mr Bardella, speaking to supporters, said the French had "expressed a desire for change".
He was the first to call on Mr Macron to call snap legislative elections.
"France has given its verdict and there is no appeal," Mr Bardella said.
The election results also mark a critical moment as eyes turn to France's 2027 presidential vote where Mr Macron cannot stand again and RN figurehead Marine Le Pen believes she has her best-ever chance of winning the Elysee Palace.
Ms Le Pen welcomed the call for a snap election and described the election result as "historic".
"We are ready to take over the power if the French give ustheir trust in the upcoming national elections," she said during a rally.
The dissolution will be the first such move since 1997 when then right-wing president Jacques Chirac called snap legislative elections only to see the left win a majority.
This left him forced to endure half a decade in "cohabitation," a term used in France when the president and prime minister come from opposing political forces.
A presidential advisor, who asked not to be named, said that Mr Macron's camp was going into the elections "to win".
"Risk-taking" is part of the "DNA" of Mr Macron's camp, the advisor added.
RN deputy chief Louis Aliot told broadcaster BFMTV that the RN would seek to win a majority in the legislative elections and make Mr Bardella prime minister.
The only consolation for Mr Macron's ruling party was it managed to narrowly retain second place ahead of a challenge from the Socialists, third with 13 - 14% of the vote, the projections showed.
