France’s right-wing parties facing crisis over possible alliances ahead of snap polls

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France’s right-wing parties are facing a crisis over possible alliances ahead of the snap polls announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday.

After the far-right National Rally (RN) received more than 30% of the votes in Sunday's elections for the EU Parliament, Macron conceded defeat to his centrist alliance and dissolved the parliament.

Following Macron’s decision, political parties have begun to explore various options for allying to contest in the upcoming elections.

The left-wing parties, including the Greens, the Socialist Party (PS), La France Insoumise, and the French Communist Party, announced an alliance on Monday under the name "Popular Front."

The RN, for its part, is eyeing to govern the country on its own, but it needs 201 seats in the lower chamber of parliament or National Assembly to secure a majority.

Eric Ciotti, president of the center-right party Republicans (Les Republicains or LR), called for an alliance with the RN on Tuesday, sparking a heated debate in the right-wing parties, according to the daily Le Figaro.

He announced his intentions to form an alliance with the RN.

Jordan Bardella, president of the RN and the party's top candidate in the EU elections, confirmed the talks with LR.

However, some LR members denounced Ciotti’s announcement, accusing him of “treachery” to their party’s republican past.

Ciotti's opponents will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday afternoon to decide his removal from the party president, LR Senator Agnes Evren told BFMTV, adding that Ciotti has "no legitimacy anymore."

Vincent Jeanbrun, LR mayor in the town of L'Hay-les-Roses near Paris, announced his resignation as the party's spokesperson, criticizing Ciotti for drawing on the party's legacy carried by France's former presidents and statesmen, Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou, and Jacques Chirac.

Earlier, Marine Le Pen said on Monday that if the RN wins, Bardella will be proposed as prime minister, and she will run for president -- as she has three times since 2012, with no success.

In Sunday's EU elections, Jordan Bardella was way ahead of the Renaissance party’s Valerie Hayer, backed by the government and the president.

The legislative elections will be held in two rounds: the first on June 30 and the second on July 7.