The Republican Party is currently grappling with internal tumult following the controversial exclusion of its president, Éric Ciotti, over his alliance with the National Rally (RN) for the upcoming legislative elections. According to Olivier Marleix, head of deputies for Les Républicains (LR), nearly all outgoing deputies, except Ciotti and Christelle D'Intorni, have been reinvested by the party. This marks a significant escalation as Ciotti faces a direct challenge from a new LR candidate in his constituency.
The decision to reinstate 59 out of 61 deputies was finalized during a national Republican nomination committee meeting. In contrast, Ciotti, who deems the decision-making body as 'illegal,' finds himself on the verge of a legal battle with the party. In response, Ciotti claimed that around 80 sympathizers are prepared to support a union with the National Rally, further deepening the ideological rift within the party.
The political tension reached a boiling point with the LR political office's exclusion of Ciotti, reinforcing its stance against backroom negotiations and unauthorized alliances. Annie Genevard and François-Xavier Bellamy have been appointed as interim leaders of the movement. Laurent Wauquiez condemned Ciotti's actions as 'secret negotiations' that are in total discord with the party's principles.
Despite being shunned by party leaders, Ciotti's political alliances have garnered some support among right-wing sympathizers. An Odoxa-Backbone poll revealed that 50% of right-wing supporters favor an alliance with nationalists. However, internal discord remains palpable as party leaders vehemently oppose any electoral agreements without consulting the grassroots base.
Aurélien Pradié, an outspoken critic of Ciotti, also entered the fray, calling for Ciotti's removal from the party leadership. Pradié, who was dismissed from his position as vice-president of LR earlier this year, labeled Ciotti's move as a betrayal to Gaullist principles. He also claimed that there is room for a 'new generation on the right' and insisted that true Gaullists do not abandon their party.
- The exclusion of Éric Ciotti has not only roiled the party but also laid bare the factional divisions within LR. Ciotti, in his public appearances, continues to challenge the legitimacy of the body's decisions and maintains that his alliance with the National Rally is in the party's best interest for the upcoming elections on June 30 and July 7.
- The party's interim leadership under Annie Genevard and François-Xavier Bellamy is taking a firm stance against any alliance with the National Rally, stating that such decisions undermine the party's core values. Laurent Wauquiez's outspoken condemnation underscores a broader unwillingness within LR to engage in perceived opportunistic arrangements.
- The Odoxa-Backbone poll indicates that while there is some grassroots support for Ciotti's decisions, the upper echelons of the party remain staunchly opposed. This ideological clash between the leadership and the base could potentially lead to further fragmentation within the party, especially if the upcoming legislative elections do not yield favorable results for LR.
- Aurélien Pradié's support for a new generation of leaders highlights an emerging divide within the party that could shape its future trajectory. As an outspoken voice for maintaining traditional Gaullist values, Pradié captures a sentiment among younger party members who are weary of shifting alliances and political maneuvering.
