Court Suspends Eric Ciotti's Expulsion Amidst Les Républicains Political Crisis

Political Turmoil Within Les Républicains: Eric Ciotti’s Expulsion Suspended

In a new twist, the ongoing political crisis within Les Républicains (LR) took an unexpected turn on Friday evening, as the court suspended the exclusion of party president Eric Ciotti. The suspension was issued in response to Ciotti’s legal challenge against the decisions made by LR leaders to expel him. Ciotti expressed his satisfaction with the court's ruling, emphasizing the illegality of the procedures followed by party executives.

Earlier in the week, Ciotti announced an alliance between LR and the RN (National Rally), a move to secure a majority in the Assembly. This alliance, revealed after secret meetings with Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen, and Vincent Bolloré, led to immediate backlash from LR leaders. They initiated procedures to exclude him from the party, claiming his actions were a betrayal. To counteract, Ciotti locked the party headquarters, arguing that the expulsion procedure was not properly convened. Despite the turmoil, LR executives held an extraordinary office meeting and decided to expel him for his politically sensitive actions.

However, Ciotti appealed to the Paris court, deeming his expulsion nonsensical. Meanwhile, party activities continued with LR preparing candidates for upcoming legislative elections. According to the party’s statement, more than 200 candidates have been designated, with focus on ensuring a robust representation of the Republican right in the National Assembly.

As tensions remain high, further legal appeals and political strategies are expected to unfold in the coming days. The crisis underscores significant internal divisions within Les Républicains, magnified by the controversial partnership with RN.