In a bold move that has sent ripples throughout French politics, the leader of France's right-wing Republicans party, Eric Ciotti, has voiced his support for an alliance with the far-right National Rally (RN) in the upcoming snap elections called by President Emmanuel Macron.

The decision to dissolve parliament and call for elections came after the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, scored a remarkable victory in the recent European elections. This triumph prompted Macron to take action and seek a fresh mandate from the French electorate.

However, Ciotti's endorsement of an alliance with the RN has sparked outrage within his own party. The Republicans, who secured a mere 7.25% of the vote in the European elections, have seen many of their supporters flock to the more anti-immigration stance of the RN.

Ciotti defended his stance, stating, "We need to have an alliance while remaining ourselves... an alliance with the National Rally and its candidates." This unexpected move has thrown the Republicans into disarray, with Le Monde describing the party as "on the verge of implosion."

The proposed alliance has triggered a response from political parties across the spectrum. Left-wing parties have already set aside their differences to form a "popular front" in a bid to increase their chances of winning more seats. However, the traditional right-wing in French politics has never ventured into any political accord with the far right, making Ciotti's remarks highly contentious.

While Ciotti's suggestion was praised by Marine Le Pen as a "courageous choice and sense of responsibility," it was met with scorn from critics within the party. Florence Portelli, the vice-president of the Republicans, stated that Ciotti would be dismissed for suggesting an alliance with the far right. Others within the party accused him of disloyalty and threatened to resign if Ciotti did not step down.

Critics argue that Ciotti's motives were primarily driven by local politics in his home city of Nice. Some even speculated that his proposed alliance was merely playing into Macron's hands. François-Xavier Bellamy, who led the Republicans in the European elections, believed that working with the RN would be doing Macron's bidding.

Despite the tensions within political parties, the elections will proceed as planned, with two rounds set for June 30 and July 7, just weeks before the Paris Olympics. The National Rally emerged as the leading party in the European elections, securing 31.4% of the vote, more than double the support for Macron's Renew alliance at 14.6%.

The upcoming elections pose a big risk for Macron, who failed to secure a majority in parliament during his second term. He has often relied on the support of the Republicans to pass legislation. The latest opinion poll indicates that the National Rally would win 34% of the vote, placing them ahead of Macron's party at 19%.

While the RN has historically struggled to secure more than 50% of the votes in second-round run-offs, their opponents tend to unite against the far-right party. Nevertheless, the Republicans' alliance with the RN could change the dynamics, potentially giving the far-right party a better chance at victory.

As France prepares for the national elections, the spectacle of political alliances and deepening divisions promises a tumultuous political landscape in the coming weeks. The fate of Macron's government hangs in the balance, as he faces the possibility of defeat and potential obstacles to passing future legislation.