- Location
- Limousin, France
So Barnier's out,
France’s conservative Les Républicains (LR) whittled down its five presidential candidates to two on Thursday in the first round of the party primary, with right-wing southern MP Eric Ciotti and head of the Paris region Valérie Pécresse progressing to a run-off.
In a surprise result, Ciotti came first among the five challengers with 25.6 percent of votes cast by registered members, while
Pécresse took 25 percent. The results spell disappointment for former EU negotiator Michel Barnier and ex-health minister Xavier Bertrand, whom many saw as favourites at the start of the primary process.
Despite Ciotti edging her in the first round, Pécresse emerged as favourite in the runoff as the three other candidates swiftly threw their support behind her.
France’s conservative Les Républicains (LR) whittled down its five presidential candidates to two on Thursday in the first round of the party primary, with right-wing southern MP Eric Ciotti and head of the Paris region Valérie Pécresse progressing to a run-off.
In a surprise result, Ciotti came first among the five challengers with 25.6 percent of votes cast by registered members, while
Pécresse took 25 percent. The results spell disappointment for former EU negotiator Michel Barnier and ex-health minister Xavier Bertrand, whom many saw as favourites at the start of the primary process.
Despite Ciotti edging her in the first round, Pécresse emerged as favourite in the runoff as the three other candidates swiftly threw their support behind her.