French judo legend and Olympic medallist Teddy Riner announces presidential bid
Five time French Olympic gold medallist Teddy Riner described himself a a candidate of "unity" who sought to "unite" the left and right.
Teddy Riner, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, announced on Monday that he is running for President of France, with less than six months until the election in the spring. In an interview with Le Parisien, Riner stated that he does not align with either the left or the right, but seeks to be a unifying figure. He also expressed that he intends to continue his athletic career and compete in the 2028 LA Olympics if the public supports it.
In a video posted on X, Riner argued that France does not require a professional politician who constantly argues and debates, but rather common sense, goodness, and a government functioning as intended. Despite lacking political experience, Riner predicted that people would view him as "crazy" for not having the right connections, but insisted that refusing to accept chaos makes him "crazy."
Riner emphasized that he will not be one of those who stand by passively while the country deteriorates, asserting that his life has always been about fighting and overcoming adversity. With less than six months remaining until the presidential election, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads the polls with 36% support, followed by hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon with 17.6%.
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