Républicains expel Ciotti after agreement with Le Pen. Macron proposes federation of moderates. Salvini-Le Pen pact in Brussels.

Sensational turning point in the French neo-Gollist party. The political bureau of the Républicains, which is 500 metres from the party's headquarters and has been closed down on authority, has decided to expel the president Eric Ciotti, guilty of having signed a disputed electoral agreement with the right wing of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella.

This concludes 24 dramatic hours for the French neo-Gollist force, thrown into chaos by its president's initiative, which was not agreed with the party leadership. In the recent European elections, the Républicains party gathered 7.3% of the vote.

After his refusal to participate in the political office that would later dismiss him, Ciotti decided to have the party office closed. All employees were ordered to leave the offices by noon. 'He's gone mad, I'm staying,' said one senior party employee. An extraordinary executive office of the party then met, despite all Ciotti's opposition, at the Social Museum, a research centre located 500 metres from the party headquarters. There the rift took place.

'I am and remain the president of our political formation, elected by the members': this was Eric Ciotti's reaction to the decision of the political bureau of the Républicains. 'This afternoon's meeting took place in flagrant violation of our statutes,' he wrote in a statement, 'none of the decisions taken at this meeting carry legal consequences. But it may have criminal consequences'.

Emmanuel Macron's surprise move to dissolve the National Assembly after the defeat in the European elections therefore continues to have unforeseen consequences. The French president said today during the launch of the electoral campaign for the legislative elections at the end of the month that his majority must 'go into dialogue with personalities and forces that are not part of it today', hypothesising an enlargement of the government to include moderate forces. He said this at a press conference two days after the heavy defeat in the European elections. Macron proposes a 'federation of projects' with all political figures who 'do not recognise themselves in the extremist fever' and who 'can work to build, to govern France, for the Republic'. Extreme parties in France can make alliances that are just political bricolage because on all important issues, Ukraine, the Middle East, nuclear, energy, they have opposing positions, Macron stressed, urging the French to "reject the extremes". "After the elections we will have to have an open dialogue to understand how to better serve France.