@pettter
That theory doesn't explain why he called the election just after the EP results: if he was _that_ calculating he would take the much safer option of waiting for some crisis closer to the normal election date so the RN would have less time to cause damage while in power.

For example the fall budget was expected to be very hard to pass, which would be an excellent excuse to call for new elections, and would give him more control over what the issues would be.

And letting the RN in is more likely to sully his reputation and have him thrown out of national politics forever than have him raised to the sky. Finally, Macron isn't able to run for president next election anyway (that's presumably Attal's job) so it is impossible for him personally to win.