Emmanuel Macron presented a serious problem in the French legislative elections

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French President Emmanuel Macron says he takes responsibility for the political divide caused by his decision to hold snap parliamentary elections over the summer.

“Tonight I have to realize that a solution to the French people, rather than a dissolution, has caused more division in the Assembly,” he said in his annual New Year’s address. “I fully acknowledge that.”

Macron’s eighth address as president will cap a year in which his political influence has been severely weakened by the collapse in June, which gave power to the far-right Rassemblement National and split the French parliament into three factions.

After a disappointing performance in the European elections for his centrist candidates in early June, Macron The country needs a “period of clarification” to resolve the rise of the RN in the European elections, it has surprised France.

But subsequent elections rejected his centrist, pro-business agenda and made the RN France’s largest party in a fractured parliament.

Macron appointed conservative politician and former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as prime minister in September. But a confidence vote was rejected last month after he failed to garner support from left and right for a budget designed to reduce France’s deficit to more than 6 percent by 2024.

Macron appointed his friend Francois Baru as prime minister. In the year Asking politicians to negotiate in 2025, he suggested he might ask French voters to vote next year.

“I will also ask you to decide on some key issues, because each of you will have a role to play,” he said, adding that several analysts have suggested that a referendum could be held in 2025.

Macron cited foreign policy challenges for France next year.

Following Donald Trump’s re-election as US President, who demanded an increase in defense spending by NATO allies, Macron reiterated his call for more European defense spending, saying, “Europe can no longer hand over its security and defense to other powers.”

In addition, Europe asked to “simplify the rules” to encourage more investment from business.

But the address is unlikely to change perceptions of Macron among voters. His approval ratings have fallen to record lows this year, with only 21 percent confident in his ability to tackle France’s problems in a December Elabe poll.

His far-right rival Marine Le Pen said in his New Year’s message on Tuesday that “delayed regrets or false pleas from a futile leader will make no difference.”

In the year While not explicitly calling for Macron to hold early presidential elections ahead of the next vote scheduled for 2027, he said 2025 would be the “decisive year” and France could only solve its problems with a “democratic decision”.