French Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner has announced his candidacy for the 2027 French presidential election. Riner, a five-time Olympic champion, revealed his intentions on social media, stating he is willing to go all the way. His popularity and image could be significant assets, but he must still convince voters of his political project and ability to exercise power. According to Jean-Baptiste Guégan, an expert in sports geopolitics, Riner's candidacy could accelerate the recomposition of the French political landscape.
Guégan, who teaches at Sciences Po Paris, notes that Riner's candidacy is not surprising, as he has expressed presidential ambitions for years. Riner's popularity could translate into electoral capital, particularly in a context of distrust towards traditional politicians. Guégan cites examples of Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, who leveraged their outsider status to achieve political success. Riner's ability to unite beyond political divisions and embody a certain idea of French success could also work in his favor.
However, Guégan emphasizes that popularity is not enough to build a presidential candidacy. Riner's main weakness lies in the lack of a clearly identified project. The expert highlights Riner's entourage, which could include Jean-Louis Borloo and personalities close to Emmanuel Macron. The challenge for Riner will be to transform his sports image into presidential stature. Guégan notes that it remains to be seen whether a champion can convert their sporting notoriety and record into political capital.
Criticisms already leveled at Riner could complicate his efforts. Guégan believes that if Riner can make it to February, the discourse will change. The expert cites examples of athletes who have transitioned into politics, such as Liberian former footballer George Weah, who was elected president in 2018. However, these examples also demonstrate the limitations of relying solely on popularity. Weah's experience shows that a credibility boost is not sufficient for long-term success.
Guégan stresses that exercising power requires compromise and working with different political forces. Riner must present a clear project to the French people. The expert believes that if Riner can present a project and surround himself with the right people, he can go far. Riner's candidacy could lead to a recomposition of the French political landscape in view of the presidential election.
Another question raised by Riner's ambitions is his potential participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Guégan finds it difficult to envision Riner balancing presidential duties with Olympic preparation. The expert argues that the obligations of a head of state are incompatible with preparing for the Olympics. Riner must demonstrate that he can move beyond his sports status to convince the French that he can become a statesman.
Ultimately, Riner faces significant challenges in his bid for the presidency. He must develop a clear project, build a strong team, and demonstrate his ability to exercise power. If successful, Riner's candidacy could mark a new chapter in French politics. The coming months will be crucial in determining the solidity of his candidacy.
Key points
- Teddy Riner's popularity and image could be significant assets in his presidential bid.
- Riner's main weakness lies in the lack of a clearly identified project.
- The expert believes that Riner's candidacy could lead to a recomposition of the French political landscape.
