Beyond the rings - 5# edition - June 12th
Here comes the 5th edition of the weekly newsletter crafted by the Weber Shandwick France team. And this week’s issue is more political than ever!?
Amid political turmoil caused by last Sunday’s announcement of snap elections, the flame continues to make its way through the country, the Rings have been unveiled, Paris Mayor’s big swim in the Seine River has been postponed again. It’s almost like business as usual… except it’s not.?
Have a look at our take on this week’s issues!?
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WHAT’S FLAMING THIS WEEK? By Charline Quillérou
On Sunday evening, in the aftermath of the European election results, President Macron’s announcement of a snap election sent shockwaves through the French political landscape 47 days before the Grand Opening. As France prepares to welcome international delegations of athletes, politicians and tourists, several unknowns remain: what will the Government look like on 26 July? Will President Macron be standing next to PM Jordan Bardella for the opening ceremony? Will domestic protests take hostage visitors who have come to celebrate their sporting idols? Nobody knows. If anyone argues they do, it’s a lie.??
Let’s take a second to think about it. It’s 8pm on July 7, French voters have been to the polls in two rounds, the first results are out: the National Rally comes out on top and President Macron’s list suffers a second humiliating defeat to the far-right movement in barely a month. No matter what the results are, the PM in France usually comes from a political party belonging to the majority in the National Assembly. If the National Rally manages to convince enough voters to give them the keys to the Parliament, Jordan Bardella could become the next PM. If not, National Rally MPs could form a blocking minority or even a majority through a coalition with other right-wing groups. To date, there is still a great deal of doubt, and forward-looking scenarios are in full swing.?
President Macron made a poker move with the political cards he had at hand. All political parties are now working day and night to get a royal flush draw on July 7. Will the greatest international sporting event take place amid political chaos??
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GOVENMENT RESHUFFLE?
Significant political disruptions are expected in the weeks (and months) to come in France. Only a few weeks away from the launch of the most awaited sports event, concerns have been raised over the impact this decision to call snap elections will have on the last mile of preparations for the games. At this stage, all involved stakeholders are reassuring. But beyond this summer, the legislative elections could well reshuffle the parliamentary landscape, directly impacting policy priorities and businesses’ public affairs strategies.??
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"I have decided to give you back the choice of your parliamentary future by voting. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly this evening." With these words, the President of the French Republic spoke on Sunday evening after suffering a heavy defeat in the European elections. Snap elections will be held in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. This decision comes at a time when the far right has reached more than 30% of the casted votes, while President Macron’s party list painfully reached 15%. The upcoming elections will most likely lead to a change of government only a few days before hosting the world's most important sporting event.??
The Organizing Committee is however reassuring: they “can count on the services of the State to move the final issues forward”. Asked about a possible fear of running out of interlocutors within the executive, or of seeing its usual interlocutors being “distracted” by the legislative campaign, the organizers of this summer’s games consider that “all the major structural decisions have been taken a long time ago”.?
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo's swim in the Seine “probably postponed”???
Anne Hidalgo's planned swim in the Seine, initially scheduled for June 23 with the presence of Police Prefect Laurent Nunez and Regional Prefect Marc Guillaume, appears to have been compromised due to high water levels, the city told reporters. Let’s see whether they make the jump on June 30 or not.?
?The mayor also expressed her “concern” regarding the outcomes of the European elections and stated that dissolving the Assembly just before the Olympic Games was extremely troubling.?
More funding for the Para-athletes? This is a topic keeping the organizing committee and the French government busy. According to the national press agency AFP, a budget of 30 million euros is under discussion. There are uncertainties surrounding revenues from ticket sales: of the 2.8 million tickets on sale, only 900,000 have been snapped up. In December 2022, the French government had already added 70 million euros to the 100 million it had initially allocated.?
?????? Influencers are more than what we might think!??
On June 7, the flame traveled through the Finistère department, visiting seven iconic locations. The journey began in Port-la-Forêt and thro continued ugh Quimper, La Torche, Plougastel-Daoulas, Pointe du Raz, Mont-Saint-Michel de Brasparts, and finally Brest. This event attracted significant attention and engagement from locals and sports enthusiasts.?
The torchbearers were part of a broader effort to highlight local heroes and community figures during the relay, celebrating their contributions and stories as the flame journeyed towards the season of games.??
We got Julie Meunier, Jean Le Cam and Jacques Barreau who carried the Olympic torch! If you don’t know them, we got you!??
Julie Herbin Meunier, known as @julie_herbin_meunier on Instagram, is a breast cancer survivor and the founder of the brand Les Franjynes.??
?Diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27, she transformed her experience by creating a social enterprise that offers alternatives to wigs for women with cancer, including fringes paired with turbans. She uses her Instagram account to share her journey of resilience and fight against the disease, while providing support and inspiration to others facing similar challenges.?
You can follow her journey on Instagram:?
?Jean Le Cam, a renowned French sailor, had the honor of carrying the Olympic flame during its passage through Finistère. Nicknamed "King Jean," Le Cam is a highly respected figure in the sailing world, known for his multiple participations in the Vendée Globe, an around-the-world solo yacht race. At the age of 65, he is preparing for his sixth Vendée Globe race, demonstrating his enduring commitment to the sport.??
You can follow his journey on Instagram:??
Jacques Barreau’s philosophy revolves around daring adventures, living healthily, and harmonizing with the planet. This innovative and eco-friendly approach aligns with the Olympic values of sustainability and excellence, making him a fitting choice as a torchbearer for this prestigious event!?
If you want to read more about it, here you go!?
?????? Influencers are also engaged in the country’s political life.??
If you scroll on the internet and especially if you follow French content creators, you could have seen them encouraging their communities to vote!??
For example, Charlène Freslon, who’s a LinkedIn influencer, wrote a post explaining the importance of voting to not let other people make decisions about the future of our country.?
Here is her LinkedIn account:??
?Unveiling of the rings at Paris La Défense Arena: A spectacular prelude to this summer's events?
Have a look at the rings!??
The big swim has been postponed again…?
Just weeks before this summer, pollution in the Seine forced the French open-water swim team to cancel a critical training session, raising concerns about the river's readiness for the events.??
Here comes a clash between eco-friendly aspirations and athlete comfort!??
At a time when Paris is facing controversy over air conditioning, several countries have chosen to bring their own air conditioners. However, this luxury will not be enjoyed by all athletes…?
Russia's Cyber Playbook: Spreading Fear Ahead of this summer’s event??
Just weeks before the event, Russian groups are intensifying efforts to stir fear and disrupt the event with sophisticated disinformation campaigns.?
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