For the launch of its states general, LR rolls on the right and hits the majority

The president of the Les Républicains party, Eric Ciotti, during the states general of the right at the Cirque d’hiver, in Paris, on June 17, 2023. (Photo Ludovic MARIN / AFP) LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

“And don’t forget, the right is back! » In the middle of the Cirque d’hiver track, Eric Ciotti takes leave of the 1,600 people present (according to the organization) for the launch of the general embly of the Les Républicains (LR) party, this Saturday, June 17. The president of LR ped between the drops. Outside, the storm has just broken out and some activists brave the Parisian deluge to run towards the nearest metro station. The others gather at the entrance. In the middle of them, Olivier Marleix looks at the sky, doubtful.

A few minutes earlier, the boss of the LR group in the National embly attended a round table on the “wokist threat” with the high-profile Quebec sociologist Mathieu Bock-Côté and Eric Naulleau. The editor, friend of Eric Zemmour, denounced the “wokism as totalitarianism” and called Green MP Sandrine Rousseau a “struggling to enjoy”. The public is conquered, Eric Ciotti smiles in the front row but an elected official finds that the cast of the day lacks a bit of progressives, when another more ironic asks for the name “of this new CNews show”.

With this theme and their offensives on immigration with two bills, the Republicans ume to roll on the right. “By agreeing to rebuild ourselves, by rediscovering the voice of a right of order and freedom, of progress and identity, we will continue to fight for our country”, said Mr. Ciotti during his speech. The deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes unfolded his favorite themes – security, immigration – but also attacked a left “converted to integral Melenchonism”.

Experts, sketches and complaints

Not a word about the environment. The same morning, Antoine Vermorel-Marques nevertheless ures the Parisian that it is possible “to have a right-wing ecological discourse”. The member of the Loire has also sent a booklet of ten pages on the issue (written with three other elected members of the party) to its president. But in this temple of boxing that is the Cirque d’hiver, Eric Ciotti has other priorities. He does not hesitate to unleash his blows against the majority while the idea of ​​a government agreement still floats in the air. “The right is there, standing, independent, auxiliary to anyone, strong, it wants to win”he said.

Before him, Gérard Larcher set the tone. Sometimes quoted for Matignon, the president of the Senate plays the prosecutors of macronie. “By trying to artificially disaggregate the foundations of our political system, Emmanuel Macron has fed the extremes, on the right and on the left, he attacks. He impoverished the debate to the point of caricature. » To hear the senator from Yvelines, the time is no longer to wait for the President of the Republic to decide to reach out to the right. “I remain convinced that the right strategy must be independence and responsibilityhe continues. Independence is the guarantee of our legitimacy. »

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