Emmanuel Macron’s vacation on the French Riviera, where the president was photographed riding a Jet Ski, has sparked fierce controversy among the opposition and attracted the attention of the French media.
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The photographs were published by Paris Match magazine and show Macron during his stay at Fort Brégançon, the president’s summer residence. The magazine placed the images on its cover under the headline “The last summer at the helm,” referring to the end of Macron’s second and final term at the Élysée Palace next year.
In addition to the Jet Ski images, the publication also includes photographs of the president engaging in other sports, including paddleboarding.
Paris Match reports that the stay at the presidential residence is not solely for vacation. An office has been set up there, while Macron continues to hold phone calls during his time at Fort Brégançon.
Nevertheless, the photographs have drawn criticism from opposition representatives, who accused the president of enjoying his vacation at a difficult time for France.
Marine Tondelier, the leader of the Greens, said that the French were facing a “summer of hardship,” while Macron was using the period for personal promotion.
Olivier Faure, the Socialist leader, also criticized the way the president was being portrayed, saying the images sent the wrong signal at a time when the country was facing high temperatures and other problems.
“During a heatwave, while France is burning and many French people cannot afford to go on vacation, the president is having fun on a watercraft at Brégançon,” Faure said.
Reactions also came from Communist Senator Pierre Ouzoulias, who described the photographs as “inappropriate.” In his view, Macron should have been alongside emergency teams and firefighters in areas affected by the fires.
Meanwhile, Paris Match described Macron’s stay at Fort Brégançon as a period of “work-focused” vacation. The magazine emphasized that, in addition to phone calls, the president’s schedule also includes sporting activities such as boxing and running.
