After 24 hours of voting, the party announced the results of the first round on Sunday. With a participation rate much higher than the last two elections, those of Laurent Wauquiez and Christian Jacob.
LR members have voted. After a campaign lasting several months during which Éric Ciotti, Aurélien Pradié and Bruno Retailleau multiplied public meetings throughout France, the activists chose Éric Ciotti (42.73% of the vote, or 28,297 votes) and Bruno Retailleau ( 34.45%, or 22,815 votes) for the second round. Aurélien Pradié finished third with 22.29% of the vote (14,765 votes). 66,216 activists voted. The three candidates and their supporters were informed of their result by the interim president, Annie Genevard. All met, Sunday evening, at the headquarters of the LR party.
The LRs voted massively, Xavier Bertrand chooses Bruno Retailleau
Activists voted overwhelmingly with a high turnout of 72%. 66,216 activists voted. Very good news for the Republicans after the defeat in the presidential election. 91,100 members, twice as many as after the presidential election, wanted to be heard. By 10 a.m., they had moreover voted more than in previous elections for the president of the party. Five years ago, in 2017, Laurent Wauquiez was elected in the first round against Maël de Calan and Florence Portelli, with 74.64% of the vote. The participation rate was then 42.46%. Two years later, in 2019 Christian Jacob had won 62.58% of the votes of party members, ahead of Julien Aubert and Guillaume Larrivé. With a participation rate of 47%.
In the wake of the results, Xavier Bertrand sent the message to all his supporters: he will vote for Bruno Retailleau “best guarantor of the unity of the movement”. He also called Bruno Retailleau to tell him.
No agreement with Emmanuel Macron, Nicolas Sarkozy pleads for
Now, there are 7 days left for the two finalists to campaign for the presidency of the party. The second round will start Saturday, December 10 at 6 p.m. until Sunday 6 p.m. The candidates have been very clear: they refuse an alliance with Emmanuel Macron. A call yet reiterated on Sunday by Nicolas Sarkozy in front of Le Crif. The former president, up to date with contributions, but who did not take part in the vote, invites Emmanuel Macron to reach out to the Republicans and urges parliamentarians to accept him to avoid any political crisis.