The Republicans (France)#Presidential

The UMP's (Union for a Popular Movement) change of party name and of party structure was one of the promises made by Nicolas Sarkozy during his campaign for the UMP presidency in 2014.{{Cite web|title=Comment l'UMP a changé de nom|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2015/06/comment-lump-a-change-de-nom-248774|last=Richebois|first=Véronique|date=1 June 2015|website=Les Echos|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} After his election in November 2014, Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France from 2007 to 2012, put forward the request to the party's general committee to change its name to Les Républicains ("The Republicans") and alter the statutes of the party. The proposed statutes provided for, among other provisions, the election of the presidents of the departmental federations by direct democracy and consulting members on election nominations.{{cite journal|first=Anne-Laëtitia|last= Béraud |title=L'UMP se dote des statuts du nouveau parti baptisé «Les Républicains |journal=20 Minutes |date=14 April 2015 |url=http://www.20minutes.fr/politique/1586487-20150414-ump-dote-statuts-future-formation-republicains |access-date=18 September 2015 }}

Sarkozy wanted to change the name of the party to showcase the reunification of the disparate political views, from the social Gaullism of Henri Guaino to the right line of Patrick Buisson, into "one family".{{Cite web|title=Les Républicains: Pourquoi le changement de nom coince à l'UMP?|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/1602079-20150505-changement-nom-ump-pourquoi-ca-coince|last=Clavaud-Mégevand|first=Coline|website=www.20minutes.fr|date=5 May 2015 |language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=NKM : pourquoi l'UMP doit s'appeler "Les Républicains"|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2015/04/28/01002-20150428ARTFIG00288-nkm-pourquoi-l-ump-doit-s-appeler-les-republicains.php|last=Garat|first=Jean-Baptiste|date=28 April 2015|website=Le Figaro.fr|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} As declared in an interview for the Journal du Dimanche, Sarkozy also wished to change the name in order to be ahead of his adversaries Alain Juppé and François Fillon (also belonging to the UMP) for the 2017 presidential election.{{Cite web|title=Sarkozy au JDD : "Si je réussis, ils ne pourront plus me rattraper"|url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/Sarkozy-au-JDD-Si-je-reussis-ils-ne-pourront-plus-me-rattraper-688506|last=Jeudy|first=Bruno|website=lejdd.fr|date=20 September 2014 |language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}

The proposal to change the name was not received well by all members of the party. In an interview for BFMTV, Alain Juppé mocked the ex-French President for wanting to change the name of the UMP.{{Cite web|title=Juppé ironise sur le changement nom de l'UMP voulu par Sarkozy|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/le-scan/citations/2014/09/23/25002-20140923ARTFIG00409-juppe-ironise-sur-le-changement-nom-de-l-ump-voulu-par-sarkozy.php|last=Le Scan Politique|date=23 September 2014|website=Le Figaro.fr|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} Additionally, Gilles Boyer, supporter of François Fillon, showed his reluctance regarding the change of name by tweeting, "We are republicans. We are not THE republicans." The change of name was perceived by some journalists as an attempt to make the public forget the judicial problems linked to the UMP, especially the Bygmalion case, in which some members of the UMP are suspected to have forged documents relating to the expenses of Nicolas Sarkozy's 2012 presidential campaign.{{Cite web|title=VIDEO. UMP : "Pourquoi Nicolas Sarkozy change-t-il le nom de son parti ?"|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/video-ump-pourquoi-nicolas-sarkozy-change-t-il-le-nom-de-son-parti_908353.html|date=17 May 2015|website=Franceinfo|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Copé à Sarkozy : "Est-ce bien utile de changer le nom de l'UMP après une telle victoire ?"|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/20150331.OBS6040/cope-a-sarkozy-est-ce-bien-utile-de-changer-le-nom-de-l-ump-apres-une-telle-victoire.html|website=L'Obs|date=31 March 2015|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Les quatre principales affaires qui menacent toujours Nicolas Sarkozy|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/politique/affaire/financement-de-la-chtmlagne-de-sarkozy/les-quatre-principales-affaires-qui-menacent-toujours-nicolas-sarkozy_3447693.html|date=17 May 2019|website=Franceinfo|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}

Critics of the name change claimed it was unfair for Sarkozy to name the party "Republicans", because every French person is a republican if they support the values and ideals of the French Republic that emanated from the French Revolution; as such, the term is above party politics.{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/26/france-sarkozy-les-republicains-ump-socialists|title = France: judges clear way for Sarkozy to rename UMP party Les Républicains |date = 26 May 2015|access-date = 1 June 2015|website = The Guardian|last = Chrisafis|first = Angelique}} Left-wing associations and parties and 140 individuals, including five having "Républicain" as their last name, sued the UMP.{{Cite news|date=26 May 2015|title=La justice autorise l'UMP à se rebaptiser " Les Républicains "|language=fr|work=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/05/26/la-justice-autorise-l-ump-a-se-rebaptiser-les-republicains_4640293_823448.html|access-date=15 May 2020}} The court ruled in favour of the UMP's change in name, stating that the "manifestly unlawful disturbance" and the "imminent damage" alleged by the complainants have not been demonstrated. The new name was adopted by the party bureau on 5 May 2015 and approved by the party membership on 28 May by an online "yes" vote of 83.3% on a 45.7% turnout after a court ruling in favour of Sarkozy.Pauline Théveniaud (avec Olivier Beaumont), [http://m.leparisien.fr/politique/les-republicains-reunis-a-paris-pour-leur-congres-fondateur-30-05-2015-4817071.php Congrès des «Républicains» : «Un jour de renaissance», pour Sarkozy] Le Parisien, 30 mai 2015

The change to the name "The Republicans" was confirmed at the party's founding congress at the Paris Event Centre in Paris on 30 May 2015, attended by 10,000 activists.Alexandre Lemarié et Matthieu Goar, [http://mobile.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/05/30/sarkozy-met-les-republicains-en-ordre-de-bataille-pour-2017_4644145_823448.html?xtref=https://www.google.fr/ Sarkozy met les Républicains en ordre de bataille pour 2017] Le Monde, 30 mai 2015 Angela Merkel, chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, sent a congratulatory message to the congress. The Republicans thus became the legal successor of the UMP and the leading centre-right party in France.{{cite web|url = https://news.yahoo.com/frances-sarkozy-renames-ump-party-republicans-211542144.html|title = France's Sarkozy renames UMP party 'The Republicans' |date = 29 May 2015|access-date = 1 June 2015|website = Yahoo News|last = AFP}}

The organisation has been declared in the préfecture de Saône-et-Loire on 9 April 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/publications/assoc/pdf/2015/0017/JOAFE_PDF_Unitaire_20150017_01214.pdf |title=Official journal |date=2015 |website=www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr }} According to the statement of this declaration, its aim is to "promote ideas of the right and centre, open to every people who wish to be member and debate in the spirit of a political party with republican ideas in France or outside France".{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} This party foundation was published in the {{lang|fr|Journal officiel de la République française}} on 25 April 2015.No d'annonce : 1214 Paru le : 25 April 2015 Association : LES REPUBLICAINS. Identification R.N.A. : W715002794 No de parution : 20150017 Département (Région) : Saône-et-Loire (Bourgogne) Lieu parution : Déclaration à la préfecture de Saône-et-Loire. Type d'annonce : ASSOCIATION/CREATION

On 3 July 2016, Nicolas Sarkozy announced that he would resign as leader that year in order to compete to be the centre-right candidate in the 2017 presidential election.{{cite news|title=Nicolas Sarkozy confirms return bid for French presidency|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/03/nicolas-sarkozy-confirms-return-bid-for-french-presidency|access-date=4 July 2016|work=The Guardian|date=3 July 2016}}

In order to decide which candidate will represent The Republicans for the 2017 presidential election, a party's primary was organised in November 2016.{{Cite web|title=Primaire à droite : les résultats définitifs du premier tour enfin connus|url=https://www.lci.fr/primaire-droite/primaire-a-droite-les-resultats-definitifs-du-premier-tour-enfin-connus-2013991.html|website=LCI|date=23 November 2016|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} The activists of the movement could choose between seven candidates: François Fillion, Alain Juppé, Nicolas Sarkozy, Jean-François Copé, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Bruno Le Maire and Jean-Frédéric Poisson. François Fillon, with 44,1% of the votes, and Alain Juppé, with 28,6%, were the two candidates qualified for the second round of the election. François Fillon won the second turn of the election with 66,5% of the votes and was therefore appointed as The Republicans' candidate for the presidential election in 2017.{{Cite web|title=François Fillon remporte largement la primaire de la droite|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/presidentielles/primaires-droite/2016/11/27/35004-20161127ARTFIG00185-fillon-largement-vainqueur-de-la-primaire-selon-les-premiers-resultats.php|last=Figaro|first=Le|date=27 November 2016|website=Le Figaro.fr|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}

François Fillon suffered a historic defeat in the first round of the presidential election, as he was the first centre-right candidate in the history of the Fifth Republic who failed to continue to the second round.{{cite news|author=Olivier Beaumont|title=VIDEO. Une défaite historique pour François Fillon|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/elections/presidentielle/video-une-defaite-historique-pour-francois-fillon-24-04-2017-6882981.php|newspaper=Le Parisien|date=24 April 2017|access-date=21 October 2017}} This led to the victory of Emmanuel Macron,{{Cite web|title=Emmanuel Macron président : les raisons d'une victoire|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20170507-france-presidentielle-2017-emmanuel-macron-elu-president-raisons-succes-victoire-marche|date=7 May 2017|website=France 24|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} leader of his newly created party La République En Marche!.{{Cite web|title=Emmanuel Macron lance "En Marche !", son mouvement politique|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2016/04/emmanuel-macron-lance-en-marche-son-mouvement-politique-206386|last=Poussielgue|first=Grégoire|date=6 April 2016|website=Les Echos|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} François Fillon finished third in the first round of the presidential election with 20,01% of the vote, behind Emmanuel Macron (24,01%) and Marine le Pen (21,30%).{{Cite web|title=Résultats France - Présidentielle 2017 - 1er et 2nd tour|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/data/france/presidentielle-2017/|website=Le Monde.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=15 May 2020}} This defeat is mainly due to the Penelopegate scandal, as François Fillon was considered the favourite candidate by the polls before these revelations.{{Cite web|title=Sondage présidentielle 2017 : Fillon devant Le Pen, Valls et Macron mieux placés que Hollande|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/elections/presidentielle/sondage-presidentielle-2017-fillon-devant-le-pen-valls-et-macron-mieux-places-que-hollande-29-11-2016-6392391.php|date=29 November 2016|website=leparisien.fr|language=fr-FR|access-date=15 May 2020}}

The election victory of Emmanuel Macron in 2017 altered the French political landscape.{{Cite web|title=Un an après l'élection de Macron, le paysage politique français toujours en recomposition|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20180507-france-an-election-emmanuel-macron-recomposition-paysage-politique-francais-lfi-ps-lr-fn|date=7 May 2018|website=France 24|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} After Emmanuel Macron was elected as president, he appointed three centre-right politicians in his government from The Republicans, namely Édouard Philippe as Prime Minister, Bruno Le Maire as French Minister of the Economy and Finance, and Gérald Darmanin as Minister of Public Action and Accounts. The fact that three ex-members from The Republicans are now part of the government, has allegedly divided the political party based on views of whether or not the republicans should support the incumbent government. Some members of The Republicans, such as Thierry Solère or Sébastien Lecornu, therefore decided to leave the party in order to join La République En Marche!, the new political party created by Emmanuel Macron. Other members, like Franck Riester or Fabienne Keller, decided to create a new political party: "Agir". Additionally, a parliamentary group including LR dissidents supportive of the government line, "The Constructives", was formed in the National Assembly, separate from the existing group.{{cite news|author=Paul Chaulet|title=L'avenir incertain des députés LR "constructifs" à l'Assemblée nationale|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/lr/l-avenir-incertain-des-deputes-lr-constructifs-a-l-assemblee-nationale_1919506.html|newspaper=L'Express|date=20 June 2017|access-date=21 October 2017}}

A month after the presidential election, the legislative elections took place in France. In the second round of the legislative elections in June, The Republicans won 112 seats in parliament, which is 82 less than the number of seats won by the UMP in 2012.{{Cite web|title=Résultats élections législatives 2012 France entière|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/elections/legislatives-2012/resultats-elections/france.html|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Résultats élections législatives 2017 France entière|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/elections/legislatives-2017/resultats-elections/france.html|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}} This result was the worst performance of a major centre-right political party in French history.{{cite news|author=Marion Mourgue|date=18 June 2017|title=Législatives : un revers historique pour Les Républicains|newspaper=Le Figaro|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/legislatives/2017/06/18/38001-20170618ARTFIG00281-legislatives-un-revers-historique-pour-les-republicains.php|access-date=21 October 2017}}

On 11 July, the political bureau of The Republicans agreed to hold a leadership election for president of the party on 10 and 17 December;{{cite news|title=Les Républicains éliront leur nouveau président en décembre 2017|url=http://www.rtl.fr/actu/politique/les-republicains-eliront-leur-nouveau-president-en-decembre-2017-7789300987|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=RTL|date=11 July 2017|access-date=21 October 2017}} Laurent Wauquiez was elected in a single round on 10 December, winning 74.64% of the votes.{{Cite news|date=10 December 2017|title=Laurent Wauquiez élu président du parti Les Républicains|language=fr|work=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2017/12/10/laurent-wauquiez-prend-la-tete-du-parti-les-republicains_5227612_823448.html|access-date=15 May 2020}} Laurent Wauquiez's election for the head of the Party continued to divide The Republicans as 26 elected officials left the party between his election on 10 December and 21 February 2018.{{Cite web|title=Depuis l'élection de Laurent Wauquiez, 26 élus ont quitté les Républicains|url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/depuis-lelection-de-laurent-wauquiez-voici-le-nombre-delus-qui-ont-quitte-les-republicains-3580643|last=JDD|first=Le|website=lejdd.fr|date=21 February 2018 |language=fr|access-date=15 May 2020}}

On 2 June 2019, a week after overseeing the worst result for the centre-right in its history in the European elections with 8.48% of the vote, Wauquiez announced his resignation as president of The Republicans.{{cite news|title=Laurent Wauquiez démissionne de la présidence des Républicains|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/laurent-wauquiez-demissionne-de-la-presidence-des-republicains-20190602|newspaper=Le Figaro|date=2 June 2019|access-date=2 June 2019}} On 13 October 2019, Christian Jacob, former Minister of the French Civil Service, was elected as President of the party, taking from interim President Jean Leonetti.{{cite web |title=France's troubled conservatives elect new leader |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191013-france-s-troubled-conservatives-elect-new-leader |publisher=France 24 |access-date=7 February 2020 |date=13 October 2019}}

In the 2020 French Senate election, the Republicans held their majority.{{Cite web|last=Chadwick|first=Lauren|date=27 September 2020|title=French Senate elections: Right and centre parties maintain majority|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/27/french-senate-elections-expected-to-be-dominated-by-right-wing-republicans|access-date=3 October 2020|website=euronews|language=en}} In 2021 French regional elections, the party managed to retain all regional presidencies.

In December 2021, Valérie Pécresse won the Republican congress, winning the centre-right to be the Republican candidate in the 2022 French presidential election.{{cite web|author=Regny, Diane|date=4 December 2021|title=Présidentielle: Valérie Pécresse investie candidate Les Républicains après sa victoire au congrès|url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/presidentielle/presidentielle-valerie-pecresse-investie-candidate-les-republicains-apres-sa-victoire-au-congres_AN-202112040144.html|publisher=BFM TV|language=fr|accessdate=4 December 2021}} She earned 4.8% of the 1st round vote, which was under the 5% reimbursement threshold.{{Cite web |author=Joshua Berlinger and Joseph Ataman |title=Emmanuel Macron to face Marine Le Pen in French presidential election runoff |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/10/europe/french-presidential-election-results-intl/index.html |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=CNN|date=10 April 2022 }} Consequently, the party's funding was left in a critical condition and Pécresse launched an appeal, having been in €5 million in party debt.{{Cite news |date=11 April 2022 |title=Pécresse appeals for help to cover cost of failed French presidential campaign |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20220411/pecresse-appeals-for-help-to-cover-cost-of-failed-french-presidential-campaign/ |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=The Local France |language=en-US}} In the 2022 French legislative election, the Republicans lost 56 seats and fell from 2nd to 4th place in terms of seats.{{Cite web |author=Xiaofei Xu |title=French parliamentary elections overshadowed by low turnout |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/europe/france-parliamentary-elections-intl/index.html |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=CNN|date=12 June 2022 }}

In the 2022 leadership election, Éric Ciotti was elected with 53.7% of the votes against his main opponent, Bruno Retailleau, who received 46.3% to become the next leader of the party.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=France's conservative Républicains elect new leader to revive political fortunes |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20221212-france-s-conservative-r%C3%A9publicains-elect-new-leader-to-revive-political-fortunes |access-date=20 December 2022 |website=RFI |language=en}} Ciotti has largely been described as right-wing and of belonging in the populist faction of the party.{{Cite news |date=11 December 2022 |title=Right-winger Ciotti wins French conservative party leadership |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/right-winger-ciotti-wins-french-conservative-party-leadership-2022-12-11/ |access-date=20 December 2022}}{{Cite journal |date=1 January 2022 |title=French Republicans to shift further right under Ciotti |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/OXAN-DB274688 |journal=Emerald Expert Briefings |volume=oxan-db |issue=oxan-db |doi=10.1108/OXAN-DB274688 |issn=2633-304X}}

{{Main|2024 The Republicans crisis|Union of the Far-Right}}

In the aftermath of the 2024 European Parliament election and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron, Éric Ciotti declared his party would unite with National Rally for the upcoming 2024 snap election. This stance provoked a major schism within the party,{{cite web|title=France's Republicans leader wants to form 'alliance' with Le Pen's NR|website=Al Jazeera|date=11 June 2024|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/11/frances-republicans-leader-wants-to-form-alliance-with-le-pens-nr|access-date=12 June 2024}} with French senators Sophie Primas and Jean-François Husson announcing on 11 June that they would leave the party.{{cite web|title=Bid to unite the right against Macron hits the rocks |website=Politico|author=Victor Goury-Laffont|date=11 June 2024|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/bid-to-unite-the-right-against-macron-hits-the-rocks/|access-date=13 June 2024}} Ciotti was voted out as president on 12 June, though he disputed the decision.{{cite web|title=France's rightwing Les Républicains vote out leader Éric Ciotti over election pact with far right |website=France 24 |date=12 June 2024|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240612-%F0%9F%94%B4-france-s-rightwing-les-r%C3%A9publicains-vote-out-leader-%C3%A9ric-ciotti-over-election-pact-with-far-right |access-date=12 June 2024}} He was also expelled from the party on 14 June. A Paris court reviewed the case on 14 June and ruled in Ciotti's favor, reinstating him as party leader and a member of the party.{{cite web|title=Court suspends French right-wing leader Ciotti's expulsion from party|website=Le Monde |date=14 June 2024|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/06/14/court-suspends-french-right-wing-leader-ciotti-s-expulsion-from-party_6674830_5.html |access-date=17 June 2024}} Ciotti's decision to ally with the RN was endorsed by the leader of the Les Jeunes Républicains Guilhem Carayon and by MEP Céline Imart, a member of the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (FNSEA).{{Cite news |title=Elections législatives 2024: Jordan Bardella annonce un «accord» entre le RN et Eric Ciotti avec «plusieurs dizaines» de députés LR «soutenus» |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/live/2024/06/11/en-direct-elections-legislatives-premieres-critiques-socialistes-apres-l-accord-conclu-a-gauche-tensions-chez-lr_6238594_823448.html?#id-1581615 |access-date= |work=Le Monde |language=fr-FR}}

Ciotti resigned from the party on 22 September,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Éric Ciotti annonce quitter Les Républicains et sa présidence |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/eric-ciotti-quitte-lr-et-la-presidence-du-parti-22-09-2024-2570884_20.php |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Le Point |language=fr}} instead leading the Union of the Right for the Republic.

Although LR had previously promised not to participate in a government coalition after the 2024 legislative election, they ultimately joined the Barnier government, led by an LR member.{{Cite news |date=10 July 2024 |title=Laurent Wauquiez est le nouveau président des Républicains à l'Assemblée Nationale |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/haute-loire/laurent-wauquiez-est-le-nouveau-president-des-republicains-a-l-assemblee-nationale-3002813.html |work=France 3 |language=fr}} After Michel Barnier's ousting, LR joined the Bayrou government. In both governments, Ministry of Interior was occupied by former Senate Republicans president Bruno Retailleau.

{{Conservatism in France|Parties}}

On the political spectrum, LR are positioned on the centre-right{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/emmanuel-macron-angers-right-by-invoking-charles-de-gaulle-in-message-of-unity-65xgbpdqh |title= Emmanuel Macron angers right by invoking Charles de Gaulle in message of unity |work=The Times|date=17 May 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021|last1= Paris |first1= Adam Sage }}{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b6cd8bcd-563e-4426-9e1d-11bb028d2418 |title=Madrid success raises hopes of Europe's struggling centre-right |work=Financial Times|date=9 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021|last1=Hall |first1=Ben }}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0518/1222303-emmanuel-macron-france-2022/ |title=Emmanuel Macron's long road to a second term as French president |quote=These moves would seem to point towards a strategy of siphoning off the RN voters as well those of the centre-right Les Républicains. However, as past elections have demonstrated, this strategy might bolster unintentionally Macron’s political rivals. |work=RTÉ.ie|date=18 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0518/1222303-emmanuel-macron-france-2022/ |title=François Fillon appears in court over 'fake jobs' scandal |quote=Ahead of the 2017 presidential election, he won the centre-right Republican party's presidential primary, and in January 2017 was the clear frontrunner in the polls. |work=BBC|date=24 February 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Parrot|first1=Clément|date=12 June 2017|title=Législatives : les cinq raisons de la bérézina de la droite|work=France Info|url=http://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/legislatives/legislatives-pourquoi-les-republicains-ont-ete-incapables-d-imposer-une-cohabitation_2217252.html|access-date=18 August 2017}} to right-wing.{{Cite news |last=Abboud |first=Leila |date=11 December 2022 |title=France's Les Républicains select hardline new leader |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/dc12dadc-24db-420d-86c8-d08852407fcc |access-date=13 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=L'UMP devient « Les Républicains |url=https://www.franceinter.fr/emission-ledito-politique-lump-devient-les-republicains-0 |website=franceinter.fr |date=15 April 2015 |access-date=18 June 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Baralon|first1=Margaux|title=François Fillon, le plus à droite des Républicains|url=http://www.europe1.fr/politique/francois-fillon-le-plus-a-droite-des-republicains-2835481|access-date=18 August 2017|work=Europe 1|date=1 September 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Jean-François|title=Malgré le miracle Macron, pourquoi la droite Wauquiez pourrait prendre l'avantage en 2018|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/jeanfrancois-kahn/malgre-le-miracle-macron-pourquoi-la-droite-wauquiez-pourrait-prendre-lavantage-en-2018_a_23322314/|access-date=5 January 2018|work=HuffPost|date=4 January 2018}}{{cite news|title=Lagarde (UDI) exclut toute alliance avec Wauquiez (LR)|url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2017/12/19/lagarde-udi-exclut-toute-alliance-avec-wauquiez-lr_1617646|access-date=5 January 2018|work=Libération|date=19 December 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Lebourg|first1=Nicolas|title=La droite et le FN, complémentaires ou adversaires ?|url=https://oeilsurlefront.liberation.fr/les-idees/2017/12/08/la-droite-et-le-fn-complementaires-ou-adversaires_1615368|access-date=5 January 2018|work=Libération|date=8 December 2017}} They are a conservative party,{{cite web|author=Politics |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-the-hollande-sarkozy-re-match-france-doesnt-want-2015-6?r=US |title=Hollande and Sarkozy are battling for the French Presidency — but France doesn't want either of them - Business Insider |publisher=Uk.businessinsider.com |date=2 June 2015 |access-date=6 December 2015}}{{cite news|last=Noack |first=Rick |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/03/14/the-republican-party-is-coming-to-france/ |title=The 'Republican Party' is coming to France |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=6 December 2015}}{{cite web |date=30 May 2015 |title=Sarkozy apela a las esencias republicanas para reconquistar el poder |url=http://www.abc.es/internacional/20150531/abci-francia-sarkozy-refundacion-201505302037.html |access-date=6 December 2015 |work=ABC |location=Spain}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/france-new-two-party-system-center-vs-extreme/|title=France's new two-party system: Center vs. Extreme|first=John|last=Lichfield|date=27 March 2019|website=POLITICO}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=14 October 2019 |first=Fabien |language=fr |last=Escalona |title=Les Républicains sont l'un des partis conservateurs les plus en perdition |url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/141019/les-republicains-sont-l-un-des-partis-conservateurs-les-plus-en-perdition |website=Mediapart}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=2 December 2021 |language=en |title=French conservative party chooses between moderate, right-wing presidential candidates |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20211202-french-conservatives-choose-final-two-in-presidential-nomination-race |website=France 24}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=12 December 2022 |language=en |title=France's conservative Républicains elect new leader to revive political fortunes |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20221212-france-s-conservative-r%C3%A9publicains-elect-new-leader-to-revive-political-fortunes |website=RFI}} and they have been also described as liberal-conservative due to their liberal stances; they are also considered Christian-democratic.{{cite news |last1=Quiñonero |first1=Juan Pedro |date=31 May 2015 |title=Sarkozy apela a las esencias republicanas para reconquistar el poder |trans-title=Sarkozy appeals to republican essences to regain power |url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/20150531/abci-francia-sarkozy-refundacion-201505302037.html |url-status=live |work=ABC |publisher=Grupo Vocento |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725062335/https://www.abc.es/internacional/20150531/abci-francia-sarkozy-refundacion-201505302037.html |language=Spanish |archive-date=25 July 2015 }} In addition, the party also maintains a Gaullist{{cite web|url=http://www.franceinter.fr/emission-ledito-politique-lump-devient-les-republicains-0 |title=L'UMP devient "Les Républicains" / France Inter |date=15 April 2015 |publisher=Franceinter.fr |access-date=6 December 2015}} or neo-Gaullist{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |language=fr |title=À Carcassonne, Les Républicains revendiquent "l'héritage" du général De Gaulle |url=https://www.lindependant.fr/2021/11/09/a-carcassonne-les-republicains-revendiquent-lheritage-du-general-de-gaulle-9917868.php |website=L'Indépendant}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=12 December 2022 |language=fr |title=Eric Ciotti élu président de LR |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/politique/lr-se-choisit-un-nouveau-president-1875964 |website=Les Echos}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=12 March 2023 |language=fr |title=Le maire d'Orléans Serge Grouard quitte (cette fois définitivement) le parti Les Républicains |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/serge-grouard-quitte-de-nouveau-le-parti-les-republicains-5528300 |website=France Bleu}}{{cite web |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=11 April 2022 |first=François-Xavier |language=fr-FR |last=Roucaut |title=Débâcle des Républicains, le gaullisme en état de mort cérébrale |url=https://www.revuepolitique.fr/debacle-des-republicains-le-gaullisme-en-etat-de-mort-cerebrale/ |website=Revue politique et parlementaire}} tradition.

LR have been described as experiencing a rightward turn under Éric Ciotti, their leader between December 2022 and September 2024, and his predecessor Laurent Wauquiez,{{Cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=France's conservative Républicains elect new leader to revive political fortunes |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20221212-france-s-conservative-r%C3%A9publicains-elect-new-leader-to-revive-political-fortunes |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=Radio France Internationale|language=en}} in an effort to distinguish the party from Emmanuel Macron's presidency.

{{Expand section|with=other affiliated parties such as Amuitahira'a o te Nuna'a Maohi, Archipelago Tomorrow or L'Avenir en confiance|small=no|date=October 2022}}

In Guadeloupe, the Head of List of The Republicans is Sonia Petro.{{Cite web |date=5 May 2021 |title=Guadeloupe |url=https://republicains.fr/elections-regionales-2021/guadeloupe/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |website=les Républicains |language=fr-FR}} She has also served as the President of the Federation of Republicans of Guadeloupe.{{Cite web |title=Sonia Pétro se lance dans la bataille des Régionales |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guadeloupe/sonia-petro-se-lance-dans-la-bataille-des-regionales-1001362.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |website=Guadeloupe la 1ère |date=6 May 2021 |language=fr-FR}}

{{Portal|France|Conservatism}}

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Category:2015 establishments in France

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Category:Political parties of the French Fifth Republic