France: Ciotti advantage for the LR presidency, facing Retailleau in the second round

Éric Ciotti alongside the interim president of the LR party Annie Genevad, at the headquarters of the Republicans in Paris this Sunday, December 4, 2022, after the results of the first round of the election for the presidency of the movement.

AFP - ALAIN JOCARD

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Éric Ciotti came out on top in the first round of the election for the presidency of the Les Républicains party.

The MP for Alpes-Maritimes won 42% of the vote.

He will face next weekend the boss of senators LR Bruno Retailleau (34% of the vote).

Aurélien Pradié is eliminated with 22% of the votes.

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First half-hearted victory for Éric Ciotti who, with 42% of the vote, misses his bet to win the victory in the first round.

The one who was given favorite of this election certainly comes first, but Bruno Retailleau made a good score.

"

," wants to believe a relative of the boss of LR senators.

Aurélien Pradié, the third man in this ballot, suspected of having made an agreement with Mr. Ciotti in this campaign, has not yet given instructions to vote.

But he implies that he will do so in the coming days after talking with the two finalists.

Could he finally call to vote for Bruno Retailleau as Xavier Bertrand does this Sunday evening, to whom he is very close?

This doubt about the final result did not prevent Eric Ciotti from delivering what looks like a victory speech from the podium, acclaimed by dozens of activists.

A few minutes later, Bruno Retailleau tried to remobilize his troops.

Help me, he launched to the activists, surrounded by his entire team.

►Read again: Presidency Les Républicains: three very different profiles to straighten out the party

The result of this first round is first and foremost the victory of the party's hard line.

Bruno Retailleau, the sovereignist facing Éric Ciotti, the "security gentleman" of the LRs.

Both are very firm on immigration issues in particular.

But this Sunday evening, both appeal to the voters of Aurélien Pradié, promising to take his ideas into account.

► Listen again: France: a new president to save Les Républicains?

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