La France Audacieuse
{{Short description|Political party in France}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Audacious France
| native_name = La France audacieuse
| logo = La France Audacieuse Logo.png
| colorcode = {{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}
| president = Christian Estrosi
| spokesperson = {{Unbulleted list|Delphine Bürkli|Arnaud Robinet|Caroline Pozmentier}}
| foundation = {{Unbulleted list
|October 14, 2017 (as association)
|September 22, 2020 (as political party)}}
| ideology = {{Unbulleted list|Neo-Gaullism|Liberal conservatism|Christian democracy|Pro-Europeanism}}
| headquarters = {{Unbulleted list|128 rue de la Boétie|75008 Paris}}
| website = https://www.la-france-audacieuse.fr/accueil
| country = France
| abbreviation = LFA
| split = The Republicans
| position = Centre-right
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|3|577|hex={{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}}}
| seats1_title = National Assembly
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|348|hex={{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}}}
| seats2_title = Senate
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|1|17|hex={{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}}}
| seats3_title = Presidency of Regional Council
| seats4_title = Mayors of municipalities with more than 30,000 inhabitants
| seats4 = {{Composition bar|16|279|hex={{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}}}
}}
Audacious France (LFA; {{Langx|fr|La France audacieuse}}) is a French political party positioned centre-right on the political spectrum.
The movement was founded by Christian Estrosi as a movement of local elected officials in October 2017 with several right-wing personalities such as Jean-Luc Moudenc, mayor of Toulouse; Gil Avérous, mayor of Châteauroux; Alain Chrétien, mayor of Vesoul; and Luc Lemonnier, mayor of Le Havre.{{Cite web|title=Plusieurs maires de droite lancent "La France audacieuse" mardi|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2017/10/08/97001-20171008FILWWW00037-plusieurs-maires-de-droite-lancent-la-france-audacieuse-mardi.php|access-date=2021-07-15|website=LEFIGARO|date=8 October 2017 |language=fr}} LFA became a party in 2020.
History
= Launch =
On October 14, 2017, Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice, launched a movement of local elected officials which he called “France audacieuse”.{{Cite web|date=2017-10-14|title=Flash Spécial|url=https://www.franceaudacieuse.com/flash-special-france-audacieuse/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=France Audacieuse|language=fr-FR}} This name was already that of a civil society think tank, active since 2016, which carries out in-depth studies on sustainable development and the social economy.{{Cite web|title=France Audacieuse : Présentation|url=https://www.franceaudacieuse.com/presentation/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=France Audacieuse|language=fr-FR}} The launch of Christian Estrosi's movement was therefore marred by accusations of plagiarism, heavily relayed on Twitter and in the media.{{Cite web|title=La France audacieuse : Quand les politiques piquent les bonnes idées de la société civile. Estrosi|url=http://www.media-web.fr/la-france-audacieuse-quand-les-politiques-piquent-les-bonnes-idees-de-la-societe-civile-24-36-2722.html|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.media-web.fr}} The object of the association was to "bring a renewal in French political life by organizing the voice of the territories and bringing the voice of citizens to allow the development of a democratic life that is more participatory and more representative".{{Cite web|title=Résultats de recherche {{!}} Associations {{!}} journal-officiel.gouv.fr|url=https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/associations/detail-annonce/associations_b/20170041/1703|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr}}
= Transformation into a political party =
On September 22, 2020, Christian Estrosi announced at a general assembly the transformation of his movement into a political party to "make the voice of the territories heard" and "weigh in the political debate".{{Cite web|last1=Alex|first1=Par|last2=à 18h52|first2=re Sulzer Le 22 septembre 2020|date=2020-09-22|title=Christian Estrosi transforme sa "France audacieuse" en parti politique|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/politique/christian-estrosi-transforme-sa-france-audacieuse-en-parti-politique-22-09-2020-8389581.php|access-date=2021-07-15|website=leparisien.fr|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|title=Christian Estrosi appelle au "dépassement" politique "à partir d'une France décentralisée"|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/alpes-maritimes/nice/christian-estrosi-transforme-france-audacieuse-mouvement-peser-debat-politique-1871774.html|access-date=2021-07-15|website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|language=fr-FR}}
Organization
Audacious France has three deputies, including two members of the Les Républicains group and one member of the La République en Marche group:{{Cite web|title=Les principaux élus de La France Audacieuse :: La France Audacieuse|url=https://www.la-france-audacieuse.fr/elus|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.la-france-audacieuse.fr}}
- Yves Hemedinger, elected in the first constituency of Haut-Rhin
- Marine Brenier, elected in the fifth constituency of the Alpes-Maritimes
- Romain Grau, elected in the first constituency of the Pyrénées-Orientales
Audacious France also has two senators, all members of the Les Républicains group:
- Jean Bacci, Mayor of Moissac-Bellevue, Senator from Var
- Françoise Dumont, Senator for Var