Shock and anger as head of France's moderate right signals electoral pact with Le Pen

The leader of France's mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with the far right in the snap legislative elections later this month, shocking opponents and party members and throwing French politics into further disarray.

- Kim Willsher

Éric Ciotti's announcement, which was welcomed by Marine Le Pen as a "brave choice", is a significant departure for the opposition right and sparked accusations of betrayal from high-profile members of Les Républicains (LR).

Ciotti defended his decision to join forces with Le Pen's National Rally (RN), saying LR, fifth placed in Sunday's European elections, was too weak to see off the "threat to the nation" from leftwing and centrist rivals. The parties could field joint candidates in the vote, called by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, after his centrist allies' defeat to RN at the weekend, or agree not to stand against each other.

"I believe that the country has never been so right wing. It expects the right; it expects rightwing action. We can no longer rely on impotence, on communication, on a form of immobilism that has led us to where we are now," Ciotti said.

"Our political family cannot continue compromising, supporting the government... Mr Macron has damaged the country, and there needs to be another majority as soon as possible," he added. Ciotti had to push his way through a furious crowd to enter the LR headquarters in Paris after his announcement.