This article was originally published in English
The Gaullist Republican party expelled its leader after the announcement of an agreement with the far right in view of the early legislative elections of 30 June and 7 July. “I am and remain the president,” Eric Ciotti responded
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The political office of the Républicains has decided to expel the president Eric Ciotti. Bfm TV learned this from informed sources close to the meeting. The decision was taken after Ciotti’s announcement of an agreement with the far right Rassemblement National, the party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella in view of the legislative elections of next 30 June and 7 July.
The early vote was called by the president Emmanuel Macron after his party’s debacle in the European electionswhich have seen the emergence of the extreme right.
It is the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic in France that the Républicains, heirs of neo-Gaullists reach an agreement with Le Pen. François-Xavier Bellamy and Annie Genevard, the party’s general secretary, will be the interim leaders of the Républicains. Ballamy led the right-wing list in the European elections, winning 7.2 percent of the vote on Sunday.
“I am and remain the president of our political formation, elected by the members“, said Ciotti reacting to the decision of the political office of the party. “This afternoon’s meeting was held in flagrant violation of our statute, none of the decisions taken in this meeting entail legal consequences. But it can have criminal consequences,” Ciotti said in a statement.
