Ciotti plans to expel Xavier Bertrand, a regional baron, from the Republicans

3 Jul. () –

The president of the French conservative party Les République, Eric Ciotti, has announced the start of an “expulsion procedure” against the president of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand, one of the party’s main regional barons, in retaliation for his public support for a communist candidate in the second round of the legislative elections.

Ciotti and Bertrand represent the two tendencies that emerged within the Republicans for these elections. On the one hand, the leader, who has survived an internal dismissal procedure after appealing to the courts, has built bridges with the National Rally, while critical voices advocate maintaining the ‘republican front’ against the far right.

Ciotti told France 2 that those calling for his dismissal are “a small inner circle” that has forged “a secret agreement” with the president, Emmanuel Macron. He is therefore sticking to his pact with the leader of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, who hopes to become prime minister if he wins an absolute majority in parliament.

Bertrand has responded to the threat of expulsion by assuming that Ciotti is now “part of the National Rally” and is seeking to be a minister in a future Bardella government. In this regard, in an interview with BFM TV, he said that if he supports the candidate of the left-wing New Popular Front for the second round it is because he is the one who has the best chance of winning against the far-right option.

The president of Upper France is thus following the line also set by the left and the coalition close to Macron, who have advocated withdrawing candidates to prevent the far right from gaining an absolute majority. More than 200 candidates have withdrawn ahead of the final round on Sunday.