The deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Éric Ciotti was elected president of the Republicans (LR) on Sunday December 11 with nearly 53.7% of the votes against Bruno Retailleau. If he promised to bring together “LR around a straight line” closed “, the task promises to be difficult, because Éric Ciotti must already face a wave of departures within the party.
Is this the beginning of a hemorrhage within the Republicans, after the election of Éric Ciotti as its head ? ” More than ever our family needs to be reunited “. The first words of the brand new president of the Republicans very quickly rang hollow on Sunday December evening.
Several elected officials slam the door of the party: the mayor of Metz François Grosdidier, the president of the LRs of Haute-Garonne Laurence Arribagé, in particular. They are followed by several relatives of the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (Paca) Renaud Muselierwho left two weeks ago for the Macronist party Renaissance.
All evoke the too right-wing line of the new boss of the LRs or even his proximity to the far right. ” Éric Ciotti is not worried, these departures allow a clarification “, says his entourage. But this first wave of departures could hide another: several deputies saying to themselves “ constructive – those who are not opposed to alliances with Emmanuel Macron’s party – say they are very vigilant.
They will be watching Éric Ciotti’s first decisions very closely. ” We wait to see if our line will be heard or not, entrusts one of them. The immigration and pension reforms will serve as tests. »
Eric Ciotti is therefore entering a zone of turbulence for at least several weeks. With one objective: to prevent too many elected officials from seizing the poles extended by the macronie.
►Also read: France: Éric Ciotti elected president of the Les Républicains party