MP Eric Ciotti, a figure of the “hard” right, especially on immigration, was today elected president of France’s traditional right party, The Republicans (LR).
Ciotti won 53.7% of the vote over Bruno Retagio, head of the LR senators, also very conservative, in the second round of intra-party voting characterized by a strong turnout: 69.7%.
LR, which succeeded President Jacques Chirac’s former RPR, was long dominated by former president Nicolas Sarkozy – who is now embroiled in a series of court cases – and weakened by the disastrous performance (4.8%) of his candidate in May’s presidential election, Valerie Pekres, is looking for a new beginning and a new leader.
Its 91,110 members chose the line adopted by Eric Ciotti, 57, a deputy for Alpes-Maritimes in southeastern France.
Ciotti tried to broaden his scope on economic issues, arguing for the abolition of inheritance and gift tax, and for the reduction of taxes and charges.
At the end of his election campaign, trying to soften his very strong right-wing image, he also discussed social issues such as domestic violence, disability, equality between men and women, presenting “a right open to society, to freedom, that talks about these issues”.
Government spokesman Olivier Verand called on Republicans to “find an ideological compass because we have to work with the Republican right,” he said.
Source: News Beast
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