Splinter party talks under way

WASHINGTON: Dozens of former Republican officials, who view the party as unwilling to stand up to former President Donald Trump, are in talks to form a centreright breakaway party, four people involved in the discussions have told Reuters.

The earlystage discussions included former elected Republicans, former officials in the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump, exRepublican ambassadors and Republican strategists.

More than 120 of them held a Zoom call last Saturday to discuss the breakaway group, which would run on a platform of ‘‘principled conservatism’’, including adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law — ideas those involved say have been trashed by Trump.

The plan would be to run candidates in some races but endorse centreright candidates of any party in others.

Evan McMullin, who was chief policy director for the House Republican Conference and ran as an independent in the 2016 presidential election, told Reuters he cohosted the Zoom call with former officials concerned about Trump’s grip on Republicans. — Reuters