Since Sunday, December 11, the Republicans have a new leader, Éric Ciotti, elected against Bruno Retailleau with 54% of the vote. During his campaign, the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes promised that if he were elected, it was Laurent Wauquiez who would defend the colors of the party in the next presidential election. The LRs have therefore undoubtedly already found their incarnation for 2027, but they must now define a line for the party.
In the coming weeks, the brand new leadership of the Republicans will have to set a course, after the resounding failure of the presidential election. A task that promises to be difficult, as there are so many sensitivities within the party itself. We saw it during the internal campaign, between supporters of a so-called right social” or “ popular” represented by Aurélien Pradié and those of a more conservative right behind Bruno Retailleau. Eric Ciotti’s victory is not overwhelming, far from it. So, the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes will have to gather. Consider everyone’s differences, and there are many.
“At least as many positions as there are deputies”
On pensions in particular, there are at least as many positions among the Republicans as there are deputies », Says a bit sarcastic a former LR parliamentarian who joined the majority. Should we go up to 64 years and introduce hardship measures as proposed in the Senate Bruno Retailleau? Should we rather focus on increasing the contribution period as requested by Aurélien Pradié? Or mix the two measures. Some on the right suggest so.
During the internal campaign, Eric Ciotti seemed to be leaning towards an à la carte reform, where each retiree could choose the system that is most favorable to him. But the deputy of the Alpes Maritimes will have to decide, because to negotiate with the government, the Republicans will have to speak with one and the same voice. Let’s take another example: taxation. Éric Ciotti wants to start by lowering taxes, in particular eliminating inheritance tax. Bruno Retailleau, he does not want to hear about a massive drop in taxation, and prefers first to lower public spending, just like Aurélien Pradié. This is called cacophony!
Firmness on sovereign issues
There is one area, however, on which almost everyone in the party agrees: sovereign issues. Security, immigration in particular, themes dear to the right. We know Eric Ciotti’s positions on the matter: “ a firm right, which restores order in the street », in his own words. Little development to expect on this side, because the new boss of the headquarters of the rue de Vaugirard also has the ambition to bring some of the voters of Eric Zemmour back into the fold of the LR.