Republican President Eric Ciotti confirmed on Sunday his party’s refusal to participate in an enlargement of the presidential majority and warned against individual poaching which could only “contribute to a radicalization of positions”.
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday entrusted Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne with the mission “to widen the majority”, a mission which promises to be particularly difficult given the damage caused by the forced adoption of the pension reform.
“This question (of widening the majority to LR) does not arise. It could have arisen the day after the last legislative elections but neither Emmanuel Macron nor the Republicans wanted it. I do not see what would change this equation today”, explained Eric Ciotti in an interview with Figaro published on Sunday.
“Any individual poaching will contribute to a radicalization of positions”, warns the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes. “We were elected in opposition to Emmanuel Macron, on respect for a strong and coherent right. This is what will continue to guide me,” he insists.
According to him, “The Republicans constitute the only and last alternative in the face of the terrifying clash between Mr. Mélenchon and Mrs. Le Pen which is looming in the second round of the presidential election, in 2027”.
The Republicans appeared more divided than ever after the use of 49.3 on the pension reform, 19 LR deputies out of 61 having voted a motion of censure against the government, even if it meant going against their leaders who supported the reform.
“The duty of consistency has been thwarted by the will of some of our parliamentarians and also of our activists, to first express their opposition to Emmanuel Macron. I can understand this feeling. I understand less the will of others to “use this difficult debate to attempt a personal escape to the detriment of the unity of their party”, commented the president of LR, justifying having withdrawn from Aurélien Pradié his function as vice-president.
Mr. Ciotti indicated that “in a few days” he would appoint, as he had promised, “twenty strong personalities to embody a counter-government responsible for monitoring a ministerial department, in a critical and programmatic way”.
“I have also decided that we will change headquarters within the year, we are looking for the place,” he announced.
03/26/2023 19:19:41 – Paris (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
