Far-right presidential contender Eric Zemmour's Reconquest party has announced it will present 550 candidates in France's legislative elections in June, lamenting the failure of established right-wing parties to respond favourably to its "hand of friendship".
In a statement signed by Nicolas Bay and Guillaume Peltier – the two party vice-presidents who will lead the campaign – the political group will present "271 female candidates and 279 male candidates who will carry the colours of Reconquest everywhere" during the legislative elections that will be held on the 12 and 19 June.
The party added that it had received 1,426 applications, which were "studied by the national nomination committee".
Of the candidates selected, 176 are from Les Republicains, 159 from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and 215 from civil society, Reconquest said, calling for the "general mobilisation of all voters on the right and patriots who refuse to entrust full powers to Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Mélenchon".
Reconquête ! présentera 550 candidats aux élections législatives le 12 juin prochain ! pic.twitter.com/Iieur9eteM
— RECONQUÊTE ! Actualité (@Reconquete_Actu) May 3, 2022
Parties reject right-wing coalition
Reconquest has expressed its disappointment at not having received a response to its proposal to present a coalition of the right in the legislative elections.
Neither the National Rally nor Les Républicains had "responded favourably to this outstretched hand and to our desire to unite for the love of France", Zemmour lamented.
He did, however, confirm that he would not to present a Reconquest candidate against three key right-wing contenders, including Le Pen.
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