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.
Key Points
Eric Ciotti backed an alliance with the far-right Rassemblement National for snap parliamentary elections
Division within Les Républicains party as key figures denounced Ciotti's decision
Ciotti faced calls for resignation but refused, citing LR's weakness to oppose Macron's coalition
Macron called for snap polls after far right's success in the European Parliament elections
Pros
Potential for a strong right-wing alliance in France
Addressing the divide between centrist and far-right political ideologies