French Right-Wing Parties Join Forces with Far-Right... Aftermath of European Parliament Elections

Macron's Early Election Gamble Sparks Political Alliances
Indicates Intention to Retain Presidency Regardless of Election Outcome
Possibility of Cohabitation Government Emerges

France's center-right Republican Party has declared an alliance with the far-right National Rally (RN), major foreign media including AFP reported on the 11th (local time). Following the European Parliament elections, French President Emmanuel Macron's gamble on an early general election is causing political realignments.

Eric Ciotti, leader of the Republican Party, expressed on France's TF1 news that "we need to form an alliance while maintaining our identity," signaling an intention to affiliate with RN, led by Marine Le Pen, a prominent far-right figure in Europe, in the upcoming French general election. This assessment comes from the difficulty the Republicans face in countering threats from left-wing and centrist parties alone. The Republicans secured only 6 seats in the recent European Parliament elections.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Marine Le Pen, RN's leader in the National Assembly, welcomed Ciotti's decision as a "courageous choice," stating that "the 40-year 'cordon sanitaire' that caused RN's defeat in many elections is disappearing." Mainstream French parties have used various regulatory strategies known as the 'cordon sanitaire' to keep the far-right party in check. Jordan Bardella, RN's leader, also told local media that an agreement between the two parties would be signed and that RN would support the election of Republican candidates in the upcoming early general election.

This is the first time that France's traditional conservative right-wing Republican Party has allied with a far-right party. Especially since RN's predecessor far-right factions were shunned by other French parties due to Islamophobia, Holocaust denial, and other reasons.

Voices of shock and backlash are emerging within the Republican Party. G?rard Larcher, Senate President and member of the Republican Party, stated that he could never accept an alliance with RN and called for Ciotti's resignation. Xavier Bertrand, a senior Republican official, labeled Ciotti's choice to cooperate with the far-right as "a betrayal" and demanded his expulsion. Two Republican senators, including Sophie Primas, have expressed their intention to leave the party in protest against Ciotti's actions.

Amid this political turmoil in France, President Macron plans to hold a press conference on the 12th to explain the background of the early general election decision and outline the ruling party's pledges and vision. In an interview with Figaro Magazine published on the 11th, President Macron indicated his intention to remain in office regardless of the early election results. This raises the possibility of a cohabitation government depending on the election outcome.

A poll conducted by Harris Interactive among 2,744 French adults on support for parties in the first round of the early general election showed RN leading with 34% support. The left-wing coalition followed with 22%, Macron's Renaissance party with 19%, and the Republicans with 9%. The first round of the early general election will be held on the 30th of this month, with the second round on the 7th of next month. Official election campaigning will begin on the 17th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.