French judo champion Teddy Riner calls Macron's endorsement of his candidacy a "poisoned chalice"

French judo champion Teddy Riner has announced he is running for president of France.

On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron said Riner joining the race could "only benefit the country". Riner responded by distancing himself from the president. He described Macron's endorsement as a "poisoned chalice", France 24 and Le Monde reported.

"If I had to describe the president's congratulations, it would be more like a poisoned chalice," France 24 quoted Riner as saying. France 24 also quoted him as saying: "I'm not the president's envoy."

Details reported by France 24

The following details come from France 24, which credits the AFP news agency:

• Riner made the remarks on Saturday while visiting a trade fair of products made in France.
• The election is the 2027 presidential election.
• Riner is 37 years old, has won five Olympic gold medals and is from the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe.
• France 24 described Macron's statement as a rare endorsement.
• Recent polls cited by France 24 put Macron's popularity at its lowest since he first became president in 2017, amid nationwide protests.
• Polls cited by France 24 project far-right candidate Marine Le Pen winning the first round. They show hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon qualifying to face her in a second round.
• Former prime minister Edouard Philippe has slipped from second to third place in surveys in recent months. The centre-right has struggled to produce a single candidate with a strong chance of winning.
• In an interview with Le Parisien, Riner hinted he would favour a pension reform and a reduction in social security contributions.

What each side says

• Teddy Riner: He says he is not the president's envoy. According to France 24, he says he is neither from the left nor the right. In his Monday announcement, he said he feared France could soon become deeply divided. France 24 reported that he appeared to present himself as an option for voters unwilling to choose between the far right and the hard left. France 24 also quoted him as saying "a young person's future can be shattered just because they don't have the right connections, the right name or the right skin colour". The reports do not say when or in what context he said this.
• Emmanuel Macron: He said Riner's entry into the race could "only benefit the country".
• Critics: France 24 reports that "some have accused" Riner of seeking to follow in Macron's footsteps. It does not identify them.

What the reports do not include

The reports do not include Macron's full statement or say where he made it. They do not describe any response from Macron or his office to Riner's remarks. They do not name the polls cited. They do not say whether Riner is backed by any party or has met formal candidacy requirements. Vocemundi reviewed only a summary of Le Monde's report.

Analysis

Riner's response suggests he sees a link to an unpopular president as a possible liability rather than an asset. According to France 24, he appeared to cast himself as an option for voters unwilling to choose between the far right and the hard left, while the centre-right has struggled to produce a single candidate with a strong chance of winning. Several scenarios are possible. He could build a distinct profile. Or he could continue to face comparisons with Macron's own 2017 run. Much depends on details the reports do not include: his full platform, any party backing, and whether he meets formal candidacy requirements. For now, polls cited by France 24 project a second round between Le Pen and Mélenchon.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.