No respite for re-elected Macron as parliamentary elections loom

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he arrives to deliver a speech after being re-elected as president, following the results in the second round of the 2022 French presidential election, during his victory rally at the Champs de Mars in Paris, France, April 24, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron enjoyed no respite on Monday as, hours after he won re-election by defeating the far right's Marine Le Pen, political opponents called on voters to deny him a parliamentary majority.

If he fails to score another victory in the June 12 and 19 parliamentary elections, the pro-European, centrist president will struggle to advance with his pro-business agenda, including unpopular plans to push back the retirement age.