European elections: Russian media mocks Macron and Scholz struggles

The European elections did not conclude with impressive outcomes for Emmanuel Macron's or Olaf Scholz's parties. Russian propaganda seized the election results as an opportunity to criticize both leaders harshly. "Vyacheslav Volodin: Macron and Scholz, who are disgrace to Europe, have failed miserably," stated Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.

Many pieces of information disseminated by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information warfare conducted by the Russian Federation.

On Sunday, immediately after losing the elections in France, President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly. He stated that parliamentary elections would be held on June 30 and July 7.

"I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future by voting. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly this evening," the president said in his Sunday address. He emphasized, "This decision is serious, heavy. But it is, above all, an act of trust."

The National Rally (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, decisively won the European Parliament elections in France, securing 31.4 percent of the vote.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the European Parliament elections that although pro-European parties still maintain a leading position, right-wing parties will be hot on their heels over time.

"The shame of Europe: Macron and Scholz lose dramatically," - stated Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.

Commenting on the results in France, Volodin said that this is the "collapse" of Macron's policy, who decided to dissolve the National Assembly and convene early parliamentary elections. Referring to the polls in Germany, Volodin wrote that for Scholz's party, the election results were the worst in history.

According to Volodin, the election results in both France and Germany were not surprising, given that "the economy is stagnating, there is a migration crisis, and the countries are embroiled in the war in Ukraine against their national interests."

"Macron and Scholz are clinging to power with the last bit of their strength. The right thing for them to do would be to resign and stop victimizing the citizens of their states," - summarized Volodin.

Pro-Kremlin analyst Sergey Markov similarly linked France's election outcome to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for which Moscow blames the West.

"The results in France and Germany are predictable. The economy is in state of depression," – joked Markov, a former Kremlin advisor. "There is a migration crisis, and both countries have been dragged into the war in Ukraine against their national interests," he added.