Five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner faces a 244,789-euro claim from French tax authorities directed at his real estate company, Riner Estate, following his recent entry into politics.
The tax administration sought judicial liquidation for the Levallois-Perret-registered company last July, and the Nanterre court for economic activities opened proceedings on September 2, according to an AFP-consulted judgment reported by euronews.
The court set the cessation of payments date at March 3, 2025. Riner’s entourage and the Directorate General of Public Finances declined to comment on the filing.
The real estate dispute follows a separate tax assessment confirmed by the Versailles administrative court of appeal on October 15. Authorities ruled that Riner used two luxury vehicles—a Ferrari and a Rolls-Royce—from a connected luxury car rental company for personal use without declaring them as taxable benefits in kind.
These professional structures and tax disputes do not involve a personal criminal conviction for tax fraud.
An Ifop survey indicated that 22 percent of respondents expressed a willingness to support his bid, while a Cluster17 survey for Politico placed his voting intentions at 2 percent.
Riner’s entry adds another figure to an already crowded center-right and centrist field that includes Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, David Lisnard, and Christine Lagarde.
During a rally in Creuse, La France insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon remarked on the judoka’s political debut.
“He has class, this guy, he is a champion,” said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France insoumise, during a rally on November 11 reported by euronews, adding that while Riner leans right, he prefers facing a candidate with grit.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement, stating he was very happy to see Riner bring his convictions and talent to the public debate.
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