The Republican Front Cracked: "I Will No Longer Withdraw for LFI" Say Several Former Candidates One Year After the Legislative Elections

According to Franceinfo , one year after the early legislative elections of July 2024, several of the 215 candidates who withdrew to prevent an absolute majority for the National Rally (RN) are today expressing bitterness, doubt, and even regret.

On the left, Noé Gauchard (LFI) , who had withdrawn to Calvados to block an RN candidate, reaffirms the correctness of his decision: "I would never have forgiven myself if I had stayed." His decision allowed Élisabeth Borne , former Prime Minister, to win, but Gauchard judges his campaign catastrophic and notes that he only received a "brief thanks."

Fadila Khattabi (Renaissance) , a former minister, withdrew in favor of the socialist Pierre Pribetich in Côte-d'Or. She received nothing in return: "He didn't send me a single thank you note." Although she assures that she has "no regrets," she now declares: "I will not withdraw again for an LFI candidate." She criticizes a left that she considers divided and too radical: "LFI has become the useful idiot of the RN."

Patrick Vignal , former MP for Hérault (Renaissance), confirms: "I will no longer withdraw for LFI." Although he tried to block this by withdrawing in favor of an LFI candidate, she was defeated. "Supporting David Guiraud, Thomas Portes, Mathilde Panot, that's a no," he says.

Even in the socialist camp, Nadia Faveris (PS), who had withdrawn to Eure-et-Loir, has doubts today: "The porosity between LR and the RN has never been so important," she notes, taking note of the rapprochements initiated by Éric Ciotti .

On the Republican side, the Republican front has shattered. In the 4th constituency of Saône-et-Loire, Anthony Vadot (LR) withdrew, but without calling for a vote against the RN: "I did not announce a Republican front." The far-right candidate was elected without difficulty.

A year later, many admit they are no longer willing to sacrifice themselves again , especially for candidates from La France Insoumise. While the Republican Front strategy limited the RN's progress in 2024, it also left a bitter taste for those who paid the political price.