Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced that his UMP party will change its name and will be called “Les Républicains” (The Republicans). Sarkozy aims to change the image of his party and prepare for national elections in 2017.
The “Republicans” is the name of those who choose liberty, in all its forms, he stated. Members of the party were 83% for the change in name. About 46% of the registered UMP members partook in the voting.