France, Feb. 13 -- Bruno Retailleau's bid for the leadership of Les Republicains has sparked a backlash from party president Laurent Wauquiez setting the stage for a high-stakes battle on France's conservative right.

France's Minister of the Intertior, Bruno Retailleau, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the presidency of Les Republicans (LR) party - aiming to follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Sarkozy, who used the same strategy to secure the French presidency in 2007.

However, his move sets the stage for a potential showdown with LR president Laurent Wauquiez, igniting fresh tensions on the right.

With strong poll numbers backing him since his appointment as interior minister in September, Retailleau chose to break the n...