Emmanuel Macron says he is out to win French snap election

President says vote is in country’s interest and dismisses claims it could hand power to the far right

Emmanuel Macron has said he is “out to win” the snap legislative election he called in the wake of his allies’ crushing defeat to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in the European elections.

In his first interview since Sunday’s vote, he denied accusations that his decision to dissolve parliament was madness that could hand major political power to the far right and in effect neuter his ability to make domestic policy with three years of his term in office still to run.