The leader of France’s mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in snap elections announced by president Emmanuel Macron – sparking a backlash from his own party and shocking his opponents.
The head of the right-wing Republicans party, Eric Ciotti, said: “We need to have an alliance while remaining ourselves... an alliance with the National Rally and its candidates.” His party won around 7 per cent of the vote in the European parliamentary elections, while RN won more than 30 per cent of the vote and Mr Macron’s centrist ticket won only 15 per cent. Hours later, Mr Macron dissolved the French parliament.
A number of senior political figures connected to the Republicans party hit out at Mr Ciotti’s stance. Gerald Darmanin, the interior minister and a former member of the Republicans, said Mr Ciotti had “dishonoured” Gaullism (General Charles de Gaulle founded the movement).
He also accused Mr Ciotti of “signing the Munich agreement”, an appeasement deal reached in 1938 between Nazi Germany, France, the UK and Italy.
Denne historien er fra June 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Relax Kemi, history's on your side in the battle with Farage
Conservative MPs are worried. They weren’t worried when Andrea Jenkyns, formerly one of their number, defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Unlike Starmer, Farage's charisma lights up the room
The extraordinary poll showing Reform UK has overtaken the Labour Party in popularity can be attributed to many factors.
Okolie follows in footsteps of giants with weight switch
Lawrence Okolie is a big lad, and he has always been a big lad.
Year of living dangerously: our season awards for 2024
Kieran Jackson on best driver, biggest shock and much more
Injury-plagued City cannot afford to slip up in Turin
Manchester City's manager had his head in his hands.
Liverpool's imperfect win maintains perfect campaign
The mathematics of a complicated competition may remain unclear but one element is apparent.
Thames Water's operation is simply not good enough
Deeply in debt and proposing huge price hikes, the troubled company is holding customers to ransom
Murdoch loses court case in real-life 'Succession' battle
Rupert Murdoch's attempt to give his eldest son control of his family media empire has been blocked by a US court after a lengthy legal battle with three of his other children.
Netanyahu takes witness stand in corruption trial
Benjamin Netanyahu has become Israel’s first sitting prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant – having taken the witness stand in his lengthy corruption trial.
US shooting suspect shouts as he's dragged into court
Mangione: 'It's an insult to the intelligence of Americans'
