Paris, 12 June 2024 (dpa/MIA) - In France, the conservative Republicans (LR) have unceremoniously expelled their leader Éric Ciotti from the party after he announced plans to cooperate with the right-wing nationalist National Rally (RN).

Following a meeting of the party's executive committee in Paris on Wednesday, the secretary general of the Republicans, Annie Genevard, announced Ciotti's expulsion.

"He has conducted secret negotiations without consulting our political family and activists, thus completely breaking with the statutes and the line of LR," Genevard said.

The party will pursue an independent course in the parliamentary elections with its own candidates instead of entering into an uncertain alliance with the right-wing nationalists, she said.

Ciotti described the meeting of the party executive as invalid. It had been held in blatant violation of the party statutes, Ciotti wrote on the social media platform X.

"None of the decisions taken at this meeting have legal consequences. I am and remain the chairman of our political grouping elected by the members," Ciotti said.

Prior to the meeting, Ciotti had instructed employees at the party headquarters to leave and lock up in order to sabotage the meeting. He himself was not present at the time.

Ciotti had surprisingly declared on Tuesday after a meeting with National Rally leader Jordan Bardella that he wanted to make common cause with the right-wing nationalists.

Photo: EPA