“Bonsoir à tous. Aujourd’hui, je vous ai annoncé ma candidature pour les élections de 2027. Je voulais vous dire que c’était bien réel, ce n’est pas de l’IA,” said Teddy Riner.
French politics changed unexpectedly when the eleven-time world judo champion officially entered the 2027 presidential election, Sports.fr reported.
The mechanics of this surprise candidacy took shape through two distinct channels. First came an interview granted to the newspaper Le Parisien, followed by a video published on his social media accounts that quickly accumulated more than 20 million views.
The video caused some skepticism among observers who were convinced it had been generated by artificial intelligence. To dispel those doubts, the 37-year-old athlete took to Instagram on Monday evening to confirm his bid.
Refusing invitations from the major 20 o’clock television news broadcasts on France 2 and TF1, the five-time Olympic champion spoke directly to his millions of followers in an Instagram story. He wore a simple black t-shirt, far removed from institutional formalwear and traditional desk setups. He thanked the public for numerous messages of support and promised to answer multiple questions raised by his announcement over the coming weeks.
Moving past the surprise factor, Riner clarified his ideological positioning by placing himself outside traditional partisan divides. He adopted an anti-system stance free from doctrinal machinery.
“Ma première intention c’est de vous rassurer et de vous dire que je ne fais partie d’aucune famille politique et je m’adresse directement à vous,” Riner said.
Without a detailed program or a formalized campaign website yet, the native of Les Abymes in Guadeloupe outlined the baseline of his priorities. He placed the defense of working France at the center of his commitment.
“Je suis du côté de ceux qui travaillent dur pour boucler les fins de mois… Donc les salariés, les hôpitaux, la santé, l’éducation, la jeunesse,” Riner told Le Parisien and his followers.
Staying faithful to the values of rigor and probity that shaped his sports career on the tatami, the athlete insisted on the ethical dimension of his project. He said that it is important to respect rules and affirmed he will always stand on the side of justice if it respects the rules.
Concluding his message with a promise of direct proximity and listening, the judoka announced the launch of his grassroots campaign. His first official field outing is scheduled during the November 11 commemorations.
Earlier coverage: Teddy Riner Declares Candidacy for 2027 French Presidential Election
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