The French right explodes after Éric Ciotti’s decision to associate with Marine Le Pen

He thus broke a taboo in force throughout the Fifth Republic, the regime forged by General De Gaulle more than 60 years ago, which excluded any national pact with the National Rassemblement (Rassemblement National, RN).

It is true that the right-wing heir to Gaullism has long ceased to be the hegemonic party of the system, as evidenced by the fact that its candidate in Sunday’s European elections, François Xavier Bellamy, only achieved 7.25% of the votes.

For its part, Marine Le Pen’s RN is not the National Front of her father, Jean Marie Le Pen, either. The dediabolization campaign with which Le Pen has left anti-Semitism behind and has moderated her anti-Europeanism has borne fruit: 31.5% of votes on 9-J.

Furthermore, Ciotti, according to the definition of analyst Alain Duhamel, is “the farthest right-wing politician who is not far-right.” Until now, at least.

Without consulting the leadership of his party, Ciotti appeared on Tuesday by surprise on the 1:00 p.m. news program on the TF1 channel, where he announced an alliance with RN “throughout the national territory.” As he explained, the extreme right will not present its own candidates in the 60 constituencies that elected Republican deputies in 2022. Ciotti thus understands that this will guarantee his party’s continued existence in the next legislature.

The leader of LR He did not talk about programs or measures of a future government shared with RN, only of “right-wing ideas and values.” It was justified by the fact that his formation is “too weak” right now to maintain the line “neither Macron nor Le Pen” that has prevailed since Macron won the Presidency in 2017 (and brought in a large part of right-wing cadres and leaders ). “I have tried to maintain that balance, but we have not been able to break the wall of sound,” he confessed on TF1.

Protests in the LR

The news, anticipated by The Figaro, unleashed a cataract of negative reactions and all the right-wing barons who came out in a flurry. Valérie Pécresse, president of the Paris region and unsuccessful candidate for the presidency of the Republic, said: “I have always refused to sell my soul for a plate of lentils and wrap it in the interest of the country. Honor and convictions are not empty words. “Everything can’t be bought.”

Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, stated that “the DNA of the republican right is never the extremes, never the National Front, never Marine Le Pen. That has always been my fight and will continue to be.”

Laurent Wauquiez, president of Auvergne and probable Republican candidate for the 2027 presidential elections, did not want to expressly mention the name of Ciotti, his ally until this Tuesday, but spoke of “treason” and added: “I believe in politics made clear.”

Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Gérard Larcher thundered: “I will never approve, under any pretext, an agreement with RN contrary to the interest of France and our history.”

All of them and other personalities of the French right such as Michel Barnier appealed to Ciotti’s resignation, to which he flatly refused. Note that all critics have in common that they have nothing at stake in these legislative elections. Unlike Ciotti, a deputy in the Assembly for a constituency in the south of France, on the Côte d’Azur, a right-wing territory with a strong presence lepenist.

How many deputies are going to follow him? The first thing was not at all clear. The president of RN, Jordan Bardella, boasted last night on television of an agreement with “dozens of LR elected officials” but, in public, few supported the agreement. Yes, the head of the party’s youth and a couple of MEPs did.

Regarding militancy, according to a survey by Odoxa for The Figaropublished on Tuesday night, the 50% of right-wing militants approve a pact with ‘the nationalists’ of RN. Among Le Pen’s party members, 79% are in favor of the agreement.

‘Express’ elections

The dissolution of the National Assembly was announced by Macron on Sunday, one hour after the polls closed in the European elections. By law, elections must be held between 20 and 40 days after dissolution. The president warned that Voting will take place on June 30 and July 7.

The surprise of the call and the choice of the shortest term reveal Macron’s maneuver, who is trying to forge a republican alliance between his camp and the sectors of the right that do not allow themselves to be seduced by Le Pen. And, if possible, among moderate socialists dissatisfied with the new popular front that is being defined on the left.

Le Pen starts as favorite according to the Ifop survey for The Figaro posted on Tuesday but closed before the earthquake on the right. His supporters would have the support of 35% of voters in the first round. The alliance of the entire left (socialists, environmentalists, communists and rebels) would receive 25% of the votes, Macron’s supporters, 18% and the classic right 9%.

Macron’s trick is to fish for votes from the right and left so that his candidates are better placed for the second round.

Last night, Edouard Philippe and other figures in the presidential camp went after the dissidents of Ciotti’s pact with the extreme right. And for his voters, of course.

It must be remembered that the French legislative elections are contested in the form of single-member and majority voting in 577 constituencies. Therefore, it is advisable to relativize the surveys. Other earthquakes cannot be ruled out, on the left, before Sunday, when the deadline for this express campaign closes.

Macron has risked everything for everything. In the event of RN’s victory, he will have to name the president of this party, Jordan Bardella, as prime minister and cohabit with him for the remaining three years of his mandate.

In no case would I resignas declared to Figaro Magazine which yesterday released several excerpts from the interview conducted on Monday and which will be published next weekend: “It is not the RN who wrote the Constitution nor is it in the spirit of it. The institutions are clear and the president’s place is clear, whatever the result. For me it is something intangible.”