Rachida Dati, the Minister of Culture, arrived at the Matignon hotel on March 27, 2024. In an interview with Le Figaro on March 28, Senator Francis Szpiner announced that he would be leaving the right-wing group in the Paris Council with about a dozen other members, forming a new group called “Les Républicains et Centristes – Demain Paris!”. This move comes after Dati’s decision to leave Les Républicains to pursue a personal venture, causing internal strife within the party. Catherine Dumas had taken over as head of the Les Républicains group in Paris after Dati’s nomination to the government, preventing an immediate split within the right-wing party.
Rachida Dati’s active participation in a meeting for the European elections with Valérie Hayer, the candidate for Renaissance, has caused further internal discord. Francis Szpiner criticizes Dati for campaigning against the LR candidate in an important election for the right-wing party, stating that politicians need to show responsibility and morality. He claims to have the full support of Eric Ciotti and Hervé Morin, the leaders of Les Républicains and the Nouveau Centre. Despite Szpiner’s views, a recent Ipsos poll shows Dati leading in the polls for the first round of the municipal elections in 2026, even in the face of potential competition from Szpiner.
While Szpiner states that he is not a candidate for the 2026 municipal elections, he questions Dati’s ability to represent unity within the party. He believes that a consensus cannot be built around a candidate who is not unanimously supported by both the presidential camp and Les Républicains. Sylvain Maillard, president of the deputies of Renaissance and the Parisian federation of the party, suggests that the majority party could rally behind a “natural candidate” for the 2026 municipal elections, potentially without the need for a primary election. Maillard mentions the possibility of including members of Les Républicains in this process as part of the need for change after years of left-wing rule in Paris.
The possibility of a primary election for the 2026 municipal elections in Paris remains uncertain, with discussions ongoing about the best way to unite the various factions within the right-wing party. The internal disagreements and shifting allegiances within Les Républicains and other right-wing groups highlight the challenges faced by the party in the lead up to the elections. The outcome of the upcoming elections may have significant implications for the future direction of the party and its ability to present a united front against the current left-wing administration in Paris. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the unity and stability of the right-wing party remain uncertain.
