Ciotti to fight ousting in court as French right implodes over snap poll

French mainstream conservative politician Eric Ciotti insisted Thursday he was still in charge of the Republicans party as he arrived at its HQ, after leaders voted to oust him for a shock alliance with the far right. "I'm president of the party, I'm going to my office and that's it," Ciotti told reporters at the building in central Paris, calling his opponents' vote a "takeover" attempt and saying he had challenged its validity in court.