France judo star Teddy Riner began his presidential campaign on Friday by touring Delafontaine Hospital in Saint-Denis to meet healthcare workers, TV5MONDE – Informations reported.
The five-time Olympic champion walked through several departments for roughly three hours, asking questions and posing for photographs. He wore a white shirt beneath a blue blazer for his first public appearance as a candidate.
“I needed to hear what the healthcare workers needed to get across so that afterward, my team and I can continue working on the platform,” Riner said outside the facility, according to TV5MONDE – Informations.
The 37-year-old sports icon announced his run for the Élysée earlier in the week. He did not take questions from reporters gathered outside the hospital after the visit. “I learned a lot, we noted many things, we listened above all, and the time for reflection will come and we will answer questions later,” he said, as reported by TV5MONDE – Informations.
Hospital employees offered divided opinions on the high-profile visit. Marie-Line Guillaume, a 58-year-old childcare assistant, told TV5MONDE – Informations that the appearance brought warmth to her heart and that health remains a priority requiring resources.
Other staff members declined to speak with reporters, characterizing the event as a publicity stunt. One nurse criticized the media attention for temporarily blocking access to pediatric emergency services and failing to address staff shortages or facility maintenance issues.
“Pour quel parti?”, s’étonne Inas, une patiente de l’hôpital de Saint-Denis, “c’est bien qu’il vienne ici en tout cas, parce qu’on a beaucoup de problèmes à régler, tous les autres devraient venir aussi!”
Riner has described his political stance as neither left nor right while expressing opposition to extremist choices. His platform proposals include pension reform and reducing social contributions to raise net wages. He s’inquiète aussi de la dette de la France, où “l’autorité de l’État a disparu”.
Mais le judoka, qui déplore aussi le fait “qu’on puisse briser l’avenir d’un jeune juste parce qu’il n’a pas le bon réseau, le bon nom ou la bonne couleur”, pourrait également empiéter à gauche, sur les terres de LFI. His political team has not announced dates for subsequent campaign stops.
