Teddy Riner Enters the French Presidential Race: Consensus on the Sports Champion, Skepticism Over His Political Vision

Amid large crowds at the 'Made in France' exhibition held at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in southwestern Paris, it was hard to miss the presence of judo champion Teddy Riner, who turned heads with his towering stature and sharp blue suit. For four hours, the surprise candidate for the 2027 presidential election strolled through dozens of pavilions dedicated to national products, seeking to connect with entrepreneurs and the general public, despite a rocky start to his campaign just days after launching his bid.

Between Champion's Acclaim and Statesman's Ambiguity

The Olympic athlete received an extraordinary welcome reflecting his immense popularity, with chants of 'Teddy for President!' echoing from visitors eager to take photos and collect autographs, even on simple scraps of paper. One visitor expressed her intention to vote for him amid warm interactions with the French champion. His walkthrough also caused bottlenecks in several aisles and overcrowding in front of exhibition booths, including 'France Horlogerie,' where he met its president, Pierre Burgun. Burgun, who showcased watches branded with the 'Élysée' label, praised the encounter for breaking away from conventional politics, having met candidate Marine Le Pen the previous day.

Suspected Macron Ties and Lingering Tax Controversies

Despite the warm public reception, the event was not devoid of reservations and candid criticism directed at Riner. Some attendees viewed his bid as an extension of the current French president's approach. A visitor in her thirties remarked that she would not vote for him because he is aligned with the right, adding that electing him would be no different from electing Emmanuel Macron after 'ten years of suffering.' Riner was quick to reject these accusations, asserting: 'I am not a Macronist, and no one will treat me like a puppet,' describing President Macron's congratulations to him as resembling a 'kiss of death.'

The obstacles were not limited to political stances; Riner also faced heckles from passersby reminding him of 'tax fraud' and questioning the sources of his campaign financing, in reference to unresolved issues with French tax authorities that resurfaced alongside his candidacy announcement.

Early Campaign Resignations and Anticipation of a Platform

This field tour comes at a time when Riner's campaign is already experiencing early rifts. Former Health Minister François Braun temporarily stepped back from his team just hours after their first meeting, having helped prepare the launch without prior knowledge of the candidate's identity. Additionally, communications director Aline Poulain-Guerza parted ways with him after preparatory work over the summer—internal friction that the sports star avoided addressing during his visit.

At the conclusion of the visit and during his press conference, voters' biggest question remained unanswered: what is the core of his political platform, and what can he offer France? Riner acknowledged that he does not claim to know everything, pledging to unveil his comprehensive program in the coming weeks and emphasizing his determination to listen to citizens and industry representatives while relying on a team of experts and specialists to build his future blueprint.