France's legislative election : Eric Ciotti promises renewed French-Moroccan relations

«If we win, we will rebuild relations of friendship and trust with the Kingdom of Morocco, which is a great country and a great democracy, for which I have a lot of respect, friendship, and consideration. Re-establishing relations is important», said Eric Ciotti, the French politician who has led The Republicans, a Gaullist party, since 2022, during Sunday’s early legislative elections in France.

Eric Ciotti topped the election results with 41% of the vote in his stronghold of Nice, ahead of Nouveau Front populaire candidate Olivier Salerno (26.62%) and Ensemble candidate Graig Monetti (22.79%).

Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, had previously said during a debate with Olivier Faure and Gabriel Attal: «It is clear that Eric Ciotti, president of The Republicans, will be called upon to take important responsibilities in the government» if he wins the election.

On Monday, the French Interior Ministry revealed the results of the first round of early legislative elections in France, which showed the advancement of the far-right National Rally Party and its allies, who won 33.1 percent of the votes, followed by the New Popular Front coalition in second place with 28 percent. President Emmanuel Macron's center coalition won 20 percent of the vote.

Ciotti has previously called on his country to support Morocco in the Sahara dispute.