LR leader Eric Ciotti has announced plans to ally with the Rassemblement National for the upcoming early elections in France. In response, he has closed the party headquarters located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This move is seen as an attempt to prevent other party leaders from meeting to acknowledge his “forced resignation” following widespread opposition to his alliance choice.
Ciotti stated that a meeting called by party number two Annie Genevard did not comply with the legal requirements of their statutes. Despite this, the meeting took place outside the closed headquarters. Aurelien Pradie, who was previously removed from his position as number two by Ciotti, commented on the closure, saying “We will get him out of General de Gaulle’s office”, referring to the LR headquarters.
Ciotti cited “security reasons” for the closure of the offices, mentioning threats received and recent riots as factors influencing his decision. He emphasized the need to ensure the safety of staff in light of these events. Following his actions, Ciotti was unanimously expelled from Les Republicains (LR), with deputies Annie Genevard and Francois-Xavier Bellamy taking over as leaders of the Gaullist party. Despite
