French Politics and Elections

The leader of France's right-wing Les Républicains party, Eric Ciotti, backed an alliance with Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National party for snap parliamentary elections, causing division within his own party. Ciotti faced calls for resignation but refused, stating LR is too weak to oppose Macron's coalition and the left. Macron called for snap polls after the far right's success in the European Parliament elections.

French centre-right party refuses to back Ursula von der Leyen for second term as EU Commission President

The French centre-right Les Républicains will not support Ursula von der Leyen's quest for a second term as European Commission President due to dissatisfaction with her performance. The party objects to her green agenda push and support of new environmental regulations affecting European farmers.