The Republicans: Ciotti unveils his “meeting team” already criticized by Retailleau

Elected in December at the head of the Republicans, Éric Ciotti will have two executive vice presidents by appointing Aurélien Pradié and François-Xavier Bellamy within a “reunion team” whose architecture was quickly criticized by Bruno Retailleau.

“I wanted this management team to be (…) the reflection of the unity found,” he explained on Wednesday to the figaro the new president, who was elected in the second round against Retailleau with 54% of the vote.

Lot deputy Aurélien Pradié had gathered 22% of the vote in the first round by promoting a “popular right”. François-Xavier Bellamy MEP is close to Bruno Retailleau, a finalist in the elections with a promise of renewal that convinced 46% of the deputies in the second round.

“Our agreements are not respected. I’m sorry. Trust is the essential prerequisite for the rally,” Bruno Retailleau lamented in the evening.

Rachida Dati at the head of the National Council

According to a relative of the senator, “there was in the agreement a position of deputy secretary general for Othman Nassrou” who was a campaign spokesman “but we discovered that it was diluted in the middle of three others.” In addition, elected officials “who were to appear in various places in the organs no longer appear there.”

Note in the organization chart released by LR in the afternoon, the promotion of Rachida Dati, “probably the most popular figure in our political family today”, at the head of the national council. The former Sarkozyist minister, who had warmly received Éric Ciotti in Paris during the campaign, “also embodies the hope of seeing us conquer the capital”, which “will be a great step towards national victories”, affirms the left-wing president.

Annie Genevad, who had acted as acting head of LR, will become the party’s general secretary and former European Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will be in charge of international relations.

The strategic committee will continue to integrate the “great figures” of the party such as Laurent Wauquiez, Xavier Bertrand or Valérie Pécresse, as well as, on the parliamentary side, Gérard Larcher, Bruno Retailleau and Olivier Marleix.

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