French judo star Teddy Riner dismissed President Emmanuel Macron’s public congratulations on his presidential bid as a poisonous kiss.
Exiled from Macronism
Riner visited the Made in France exhibition in Paris on Nov. 14, 2024, where journalists questioned him about his ties to the French head of state. The 37-year-old athlete rejected any political alignment with the current administration.
“I am not sent by the president, I am not a Macronist,” Riner told Agence France-Presse and The Daily Telegraph.
“If I had to describe the president’s congratulations, I would say it’s like a poisonous kiss,” Riner said.
The 2027 presidential bid
Five days prior on Nov. 9, 2024, the five-time Olympic champion and 11-time world champion announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election. He launched his campaign under the slogan “The France We Want,” positioning himself outside the traditional left-right political spectrum while invoking the unity of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Macron appeared on France 5 on Nov. 9, 2024, to welcome the judo icon’s entry into the national debate. “Having a great champion like Teddy Riner decide to take part in the presidential debate, bringing his convictions, his ideas and his talent, can only be good for the country,” Macron said.
Political fallout in Paris
Le Monde reported on Nov. 11, 2024, that Macron knew of the candidacy beforehand and texted an associate about Riner’s prospects. “Don’t let the others make too much fun of him, he might just pull it off by accident,” the president wrote.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed, criticized the candidate during a Nov. 11, 2024, rally. Mélenchon acknowledged Riner’s athletic achievements but categorized his political stance on the right, asserting that rejecting both left and right effectively means leaning right.
Campaign trail realities
He spent over three hours at the trade event meeting business leaders and discussing manufacturing policies.
The campaign faced an early departure when former health minister François Braun exited Riner’s political team on Nov. 13, 2024. Braun offered a brief explanation for his departure: “The campaign has started, I choose to take a step back.”
Next steps on the ballot
Candidates in France must secure endorsements from at least 500 qualified elected officials to qualify for the first round of voting.
