How France’s historic centre-right party became a shadow of its former self

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once the dominant force of the French Fifth Republic, the party known as Les Républicains has suffered a decade of electoral collapse and internal fracturing. From its origins as a Gaullist powerhouse to its recent flirtations with the far-right, the party now struggles to define its place in modern France.

Formed in 2015 as a rebranding of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), Les Républicains (LR) was intended to unify the centre-right under the leadership of former President Nicolas Sarkozy. The name change was a calculated move to consolidate disparate factions, though it faced immediate backlash. Critics argued that the term 'Republican' belonged to all citizens, not just one party, and some suspected the rebranding was a desperate attempt to distance the organization from the Bygmalion judicial scandal involving campaign financing.

The party's decline accelerated after the 2017 presidential election. François Fillon, once the favorite, finished third following the 'Penelopegate' scandal, marking the first time a centre-right candidate failed to reach the second round of a presidential race in the Fifth Republic. The rise of Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance further hollowed out the party, as moderate members defected to join the government or formed new groups like Agir. By the 2022 presidential election, nominee Valérie Pécresse secured only 4.7% of the vote, leaving the party in a precarious financial state with millions in debt.

In recent years, LR has undergone a significant ideological shift. Political scientists like Florence Haegel and Olivier Rouquan note that the party has moved toward the far-right, abandoning its traditional Chiracian legacy. This radicalization culminated in 2024, when then-leader Éric Ciotti attempted to forge an electoral alliance with the National Rally, breaking the party's historic cordon sanitaire against the far-right. Although Ciotti was briefly ousted and the party later participated in the Barnier government, the move signaled a profound transformation. Experts suggest this strategy of adopting far-right themes on immigration and security has not only legitimized radical ideas but has also contributed to the party's ongoing electoral decline.

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