The head of France’s mainstream conservative party on Tuesday called for an alliance with the far right in upcoming snap elections, throwing his party into deep turmoil as the shock waves from President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve the lower house of Parliament continue to course through French politics. The announcement, by Éric Ciotti, the head of the Republicans, was a historic break with the party’s longstanding line and its ties to former President Charles de Gaulle. Mr. Ciotti’s call was immediately met with a chorus of angry disapproval from within his own ranks. No leader of any mainstream French political party has ever previously embraced a possible alliance with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, or its predecessor, the National Front. The elections for the National Assembly, the lower and more powerful house of France’s Parliament, are scheduled for June 30 and July 7.

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Persons: Emmanuel Macron’s, Éric Ciotti, Charles de Gaulle, Ciotti’s, Macron, Ms, Le Pen’s protégé, Jordan Bardella Organizations: Republicans, Marine, National Assembly, National Rally Locations: Europe