Laurent Wauquiez leads Les Républicains, which has been divided and demoralized ever since François Fillon's crash in the presidential race | Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images | Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images French politicians launch new party in challenge to conservatives Center-right party ‘Agir’ will stand for ‘liberal, social, European, humanist and reformist ideas.’

A breakaway group of French politicians launched a right-leaning political party Sunday as an alternative to the conservative Les Républicains party.

The party — called "Agir," which in French means "to act" — was founded by 19 politicians who were previously members of the "Constructivists," a group formed in June by members from the Républicains party and the center-right Union of Democrats and Independents, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

The party is staking its ground as an alternative to Les Républicains, which has been divided and demoralized ever since François Fillon crashed out of the presidential race in April. Laurent Wauquiez, the front-runner in party leadership elections slated for December, has staked out anti-Macron stances on everything from economic policy to the role of Islam in France, often emulating far-right leader Marine Le Pen and infuriating some moderates.

It is not yet clear if the founders of Agir, who are still part of the Républicains party, will be able to hold on to their Républicains membership.

In its party manifesto, the party it wanted its members to remain "free" even if it supports certain ongoing reforms under the government of President Emmanuel Macron and his party, La République En Marche. Its goal, the party claimed, is "to defend the liberal, social, European, humanist and reformist ideas of the right and the center."

The party's launch came as several politicians — Minister for Public Accounts Gérald Darmanin, Ecology Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Representative for Hauts-de Seine and key Constructivist leader Thierry Solère — chose to join Macron's party after they were excluded from the Républicains party, according to newspaper Journale du Dimanche.