French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged in a New Year’s address to the nation that his decision to dissolve parliament backfired.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he recognised that his decision to call early parliamentary elections in June had created more political instability in the country, in a rare moment of contrition.

"The dissolution caused more divisions in the Assembly than solutions for the French people," he added, in the clearest mea culpa yet since the elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron admitted that his decision to dissolve parliament last summer had backfired, leading to more division and political turmoil, while he called for greater unity to meet the nation’s challenges.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he recognised that his decision to call early parliamentary elections in June had created more political instability in the country, in a rare moment of contrition.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron admitted that his decision to hold parliamentary elections early caused instability in New Year’s Eve comments. “Lucidity and humility force [me] to recognize that at this stage,