Could judo champion Teddy Riner’s surprise candidacy shake the French presidential race?
A campaign takes shape
Riner, 37, was born in Guadeloupe and is among France’s best-known sporting figures. His early campaign consists of a social-media declaration, the slogan “La France qu'on aime” (“The France we love”), and a visit to a hospital in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris.
He has no experience in public office, no party supporting him and no manifesto yet. His video has received 14.5 million views on Instagram alone, while his sporting record includes five Olympic gold medals and 11 world championships.
Political outsiders in focus
Riner’s standing has prompted France’s political world to treat his candidacy as a serious possibility, though the article says some may be doing so to avoid a backlash. Le Figaro’s Guillaume Tabard argues that being outside political circles does not rule Riner out of a presidential run.
Political outsiders have reached high office elsewhere, including former Liberian president George Weah, who played professional football. Riner has also built a successful business career, but turning popularity into electoral support would be a different test.
A crowded presidential contest
The centre-ground is struggling to produce a candidate with the appeal of Marine Le Pen on the hard right or Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the hard left. The article says the two are currently expected to meet in the presidential election’s May final round, while Le Pen leads polls for the presidency.
Potential contenders include former prime ministers Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, whose campaigns have not gained traction, and Christine Lagarde, who is due to leave her European Central Bank post next February. Another candidate could divide centrist support further and improve Mélenchon’s prospects of reaching the second round.
The test beyond popularity
Riner has said people call him a fool for seeking the presidency. He presents himself as opposed to extremism, with the article describing his positions as broadly right-leaning on economic and law-and-order issues and noting his strong emphasis on racism.
Protests over wages, living costs and public services have continued in France for weeks. Riner’s bid could fade after a short burst of attention, but if it gathers support, the expected shape of the race may need to change; President Emmanuel Macron is among the few politicians portrayed as genuinely pleased by the move.
Key points
- Riner has announced a presidential bid without a party, manifesto or public-office experience.
- His record includes five Olympic golds and 11 world championships.
- The centre-ground is struggling as Le Pen and Mélenchon lead the political contest.
- A strong Riner campaign could reshape support and complicate the expected race.