PARIS – France’s conservative Republicans party faced internal turmoil on Wednesday after its leader, Eric Ciotti, called for an alliance with Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in the upcoming snap parliamentary election.
Ciotti’s proposal to break a long-standing consensus among France’s mainstream political parties and align with the far-right has proved divisive within the party, which was once home to former President Jacques Chirac.
In response to Ciotti’s controversial suggestion, party chiefs have scheduled an emergency meeting for later on Wednesday. Some members have called for Ciotti’s removal, including Republicans Senator Agnes Evren, who told BFM TV, “He will no longer be president of the Republicans. He will be fired … he has no legitimacy.” However, the exact mechanism for Ciotti’s potential ousting remains unclear.
President Emmanuel Macron, who sparked a political upheaval by calling snap elections after his defeat by the far right in Sunday’s European vote, is expected to address the media later on Wednesday to explain his decision and outline his electoral strategy.
Within Macron’s Renaissance party, there is a sense of dismay over the president’s decision, with many members reluctant to engage in a challenging campaign. Edouard Philippe, Macron’s former prime minister and a potential candidate in the 2027 presidential election, suggested that Macron’s involvement in the legislative campaign might not be advisable. “I’m not sure it’s entirely healthy for the president of the republic to run a legislative campaign,” Philippe said on BFM TV on Tuesday night.
Bank of France chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau emphasized the need for quick clarity on the country’s budget strategy after the elections, amid increasing pressure to reduce spending and control the growing budget deficit. French bonds and stocks have underperformed other European markets since Macron announced the snap vote.
The RN, known for its anti-immigration and eurosceptic stance, is expected to emerge as the strongest force in the two-round legislative vote in the coming weeks, although it may not secure an absolute majority, according to a recent poll.
The snap election has also disrupted France’s divided left-wing parties, which have pledged to nominate joint candidates but have yet to formalize an agreement, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the June 30 and July 7 votes.