LR hopes to save face in the second round and remain independent

The non-Ciottist LR right resisted the first round of the legislative elections and intends to remain independent.

With 79 candidates qualified for the second round, the right did not end up completely wiped off the map by the three RN, left and Macronist blocs. Even if in these circumstances, hopes are necessarily modest for the LR executives of the historic channel. The most pessimistic are counting on 30 deputies on Sunday, 45 for the most optimistic, with some hopes of conquests in Val-de-Marne or Loire-Alantique. The stated aim: to remain independent, despite the new call for unity launched to his old friends by the still head of the party Éric Ciotti, Monday July 1 in the evening on France 2.

The RN will try to attract LR deputies to achieve an absolute majority.“We will find responsible right-wing MPs,” wants to believe a lieutenant of Marine Le Pen. An LR advisor therefore anticipates “season 2 of the great LR vote count”. After season 1 orchestrated by Emmanuel Macron, it’s time for the RN with attempts at poaching through promises of ministries, key positions in the Assembly, such as quaestors or committee presidents. But on the right, many are dismissing this hypothesis of rallying after the second round. “I don’t think they will give in,” says one executive. Another is just as formal. “We will remain alone, not very numerous… but with panache!” he said.

No one is certain about the resistance of the troops in the face of the sirens of the RN, but the leaders of the right have an unstoppable argument. The overwhelming majority of LR candidates will find themselves in a duel against the RN on Sunday, thanks to withdrawals from the left and the Macronists. To survive, they will have to defeat Jordan Bardella’s men. “Ciotti could have given them a first-round victory and spared them a fierce campaign, explain right-wing strategists, so if they had to join the RN they had to do it before!”

The LR deputies who survive will be above all very free. It has already been several years since the LR deputies were qualified “self-employed” and it’s not going to get better. Conclusion of an LR advisor: “It’s going to be hard to hold them.”