Éric Ciotti, the mayor of Nice and leader of the Union des Droits (UDR), has urged Bruno Retailleau, the presidential candidate for the Republicans (LR), to join forces with far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Ciotti is proposing a political alliance between his UDR and Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, aiming to create a stronger right-wing coalition. He expressed concerns that Retailleau’s current strategy is not working and that he has little chance of making it to the second round of the presidential election. Ciotti encouraged Retailleau to “mobilize courage” and “add forces” by joining this alliance, suggesting that Retailleau may be at risk of being drawn into a political establishment that has previously opposed him. Ciotti referenced several figures from the former Republican establishment, including Valérie Pécresse, Jean-François Copé, François Bertrand, and Jean-Luc Larcher, implying that Retailleau might be following a similar path. He also suggested that Retailleau might align with Édouard Philippe, the former prime minister, whom Ciotti does not consider to be part of the right-wing movement. Ciotti wants Retailleau to return to a “strong, courageous, and bold” version of the right and to “turn the table” in French politics. Earlier this year, after Ciotti was elected mayor of Nice, he predicted that Retailleau would eventually align with Édouard Philippe by December or January. He only expressed uncertainty about the exact timing of this shift. Ciotti also noted that the Republicans (LR) as he once led have largely disappeared, describing the current version of the party as a “small party allied with Macronists,” referring to supporters of President Emmanuel Macron. The political landscape in France is increasingly fragmented, with traditional parties struggling to maintain influence. Ciotti’s call for an alliance with Le Pen’s National Rally highlights the growing polarization in French politics and the challenges faced by centrist and right-wing parties in uniting against the far-left and the current government.