Ciotti Backs Alliance with Far-Right National Rally, Sparks Controversy within Republicans

French political landscape shifts as Eric Ciotti of the Republicans party endorses an alliance with the far-right National Rally, generating division and debate within the traditional centre-right party. This move comes ahead of critical legislative elections, where the National Rally, led by young Jordan Bardella, aims to make historic gains and potentially challenge President Macron's centrist government.

French Political Shift: Ciotti Endorses Alliance with Far-Right National Rally

In a significant political shift in France, Eric Ciotti, leader of the center-right Republicans party, has endorsed an alliance with the far-right National Rally. This move boosts the prominence of Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of the National Rally. Bardella's party emerged victorious in the recent European elections, securing approximately 31.4% of the vote, significantly outperforming President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance Party coalition, which garnered around 15%.

Following these results, Macron dissolved the French Parliament and called for snap elections, describing it as an "act of trust" in the French electorate to defend liberalism. Ciotti's advocacy for an alliance with the National Rally has sparked controversy within his party, traditionally resistant to cooperating with the far-right.

Jordan Bardella, who rose from the northern suburbs of Paris and joined the National Rally at 16, is now positioned to lead his party to potentially historic gains in the upcoming legislative elections. Despite criticism of being a proxy for Marine Le Pen, Bardella has cultivated substantial support among young voters, particularly via his social media presence on TikTok.

The National Rally, founded in 1972 and formerly led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was expelled from the party in 2015 for trivializing Holocaust atrocities, has attempted to rebrand under Marine Le Pen's leadership. The party, now rebranded as National Rally since 2018, remains a formidable force in French politics, contending close with Macron's centrist policies.

The first round of elections is scheduled for June 30, and if necessary, a second round will take place on July 7. Preliminary polls suggest that the National Rally could capture about one-third of the vote in the initial round. This alliance, if successful, might pave the way for Bardella to become the prime minister, creating a cohabitation government with Macron.

Prominent Republicans have voiced substantial opposition to this alliance, with some members even calling for Ciotti's resignation. Despite the internal dissent, Ciotti and Bardella aim to unify their parties to consolidate a right-wing majority in the French National Assembly.