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The representative of the more extreme right wing in the French conservative right, Eric Ciotti, came first in the first round of the internal party elections of the "Republicans" party, writes in "Figaro".

Ciotti received 42.73% of the votes of party members who voted in the weekend election.

In second place was the French senator Bruno Reutaillo, who received 34.45% of the votes. 

Ciotti has emerged as the favorite in the internal party battle for the party leadership post.

If he wins, he will head a party that has ruled France for most of its post-war history.

Now, however, she is in a much less favorable position.

In the presidential elections in April, the party's candidate and then-leader Valerie Pekres won only 4.78 percent of the vote, an unenviable performance.

If he wins the second round, Ciotti will have the difficult task of returning the conservative right to its former positions after Marine Le Pen's far-right National Assembly party prevailed in June's parliamentary elections.

The French National Assembly voted to include the right to abortion in the constitution

"I want to be the candidate of hope and the return of the big right-wing family," Ciotti tweeted after the results of the first round were announced.

A second round will be organized this coming weekend.

The "Republicans" remain a key force in parliament and Macron's party, which has lost its absolute majority there, often relies on the right for support when voting on bills.