Emmanuel Macron welcomes judo star Teddy Riner's 2027 presidential bid
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner's bid for the 2027 presidential election, stating his entry into politics can only benefit the country.
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly welcomed Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner's surprise candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on France 5's C à vous, Macron commended Riner as a "great champion" whose political involvement "can only benefit the country."
In his official declaration speech, Riner voiced concerns regarding France's growing national debt and the financial pressures on working families. Since launching his campaign, the athlete has sought to distinguish his movement from the current presidential majority, recently visiting the Made in France trade show in Paris to engage directly with voters. Riner’s entry adds to an increasingly crowded political field, joining roughly thirty declared or potential candidates for the 2027 race.
Sources: France24, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération.
How outlets assessed this
- France24 Supportive Emphasized Riner's unifying campaign message and pledge to bring the nation together.
- Politico Europe (Defense) Cautious Focused on Riner's critical framing of France's current condition during his launch.
- FAZ Skeptical Highlighted that Riner's political program and policy proposals remain entirely unclear.
- Le Figaro Supportive Focused heavily on Macron's positive reaction and Riner's messaging regarding public debt and consumer purchasing power.
- Libération Skeptical Questioned the weight of Riner's candidacy, cautioning that a serious run reflects broader political shifts amid a strong far-right threat.
- Libération Skeptical Questioned Riner's political credibility, arguing that a serious bid reflects a concerning shift in the political landscape against the far right.
- Le Figaro Supportive Highlighted Macron's endorsement and focused on Riner's economic critique regarding national debt and household living costs.
- Libération Skeptical Questions whether Riner's candidacy is politically serious given the significant threat posed by the far right.
- Le Figaro Supportive Focuses on Macron's praise and Riner's focus on public debt and family purchasing power.
- Libération Skeptical Questions whether Riner is a heavyweight or lightweight candidate amid serious far-right political threats.
- Le Figaro Supportive Focuses heavily on Macron's endorsement and Riner's concerns over public debt and daily family living costs.
- Le Figaro Supportive Focused on Macron's positive reaction and Riner's concerns over national debt and family economic pressures.
- Libération Critical Highlighted Riner's reliance on public relations appearances while noting a lack of a clear political programme.
- Nov 15, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC
- Libération Skeptical Focused on Riner's lack of a clear political program while highlighting his public relations efforts to distance himself from Macron.
Sources
- France24 — 🔴 Judo star Teddy Riner announces bid for French presidency
- Le Soir — « Ça ne peut qu’apporter au pays » : Emmanuel Macron réagit à la candidature de Teddy Riner
- Le Figaro — EN DIRECT - Présidentielle 2027 : «Cela ne peut qu’apporter au pays», Emmanuel Macron se félicite de la candidature de Teddy Riner
- Le Monde — Teddy Riner, une candidature inattendue qui vient bousculer un peu plus la campagne présidentielle pour 2027
- Libération — Présidentielle : au salon du Made in France, Teddy Riner coupe le cordon avec Macron, mais ne donne toujours pas de programme
Earlier coverage
- Nov 14, 2026, 10:30 PM UTCMacron welcomes judo champion Riner's entry into 2027 presidential race
- Nov 14, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCFrench President Emmanuel Macron welcomes judo champion Teddy Riner's 2027 presidential bid
- Nov 14, 2026, 05:30 PM UTCMacron welcomes judo champion Teddy Riner's surprise 2027 presidential bid
- Nov 14, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCFrench President Macron welcomes judo champion Teddy Riner's 2027 presidential bid
- Nov 14, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCMacron welcomes judo champion Riner's surprise French presidential bid
- Nov 13, 2026, 04:30 PM UTCMacron and sports world react to Teddy Riner's 2027 presidential bid
- Nov 13, 2026, 10:30 AM UTCMacron welcomes judo champion Teddy Riner's surprise 2027 presidential bid
- Nov 13, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCMacron and sports figures react to Teddy Riner's 2027 French presidential bid
- Nov 12, 2026, 10:30 AM UTCMacron and sports figures welcome Teddy Riner's 2027 French presidential bid
- Nov 9, 2026, 04:00 PM UTCFive-time Olympic champion Teddy Riner announces French presidential bid