France is suffering from record-breaking heatwaves, historic droughts, and massive losses caused by deadly wildfires in the southwest. At a time when these problems are already severe, President Macron's 'playful photos' only serve to add to the crisis.
According to reports from Time magazine and AFP, Emmanuel Macron spent his vacation in August at the presidential retreat in Le Baggongsonbourg in France. The Paris Match magazine featured photos of Macron riding a waterbob on its cover, and other pages showed images of Macron engaging in water sports such as hydro-skiing. The magazine stated that less than nine months before the end of Macron's era, the entire presidential entourage was still immersed in an atmosphere reminiscent of a "vacation camp."
"Paris Match" is owned by Bernard Arnault, a French luxury goods magnate and the richest man in France. It is widely speculated that the media obtained permission to shoot these photos. However, a person accompanying Emmanuel Macron said that these photos were unauthorized. "Over the past nine years, unauthorized photos of the president have been leaked every year," said the aide.
Although Le Figaro magazine described Macron’s holidays as “focused on work”, stating that he has a office and “phones people every day”, these photos during France’s heatwaves and deadly wildfires have sparked public controversy, intensifying the opposition’s criticism of Macron’s disconnect from ordinary citizens.
Green Party leader Marina Tودلیе said that French citizens are experiencing an "end-of-world summer," and that "our president has posted vacation photos." She compared the photos in the magazine to "five heatwaves, a drought, and deaths caused by historic wildfires."
Socialist Party leader Olivier Furet believes that Macron has sent the wrong message: "With heatwaves and wildfires ravaging the country, and many French citizens unable to afford vacation expenses, the president is riding water taxis in Bregance-Sombourg. Is this what he wants to convey?"
French senator Pierre Uzhilas also described these photos as 'out of place'. He said he would have preferred to see Macron 'sitting in a fire truck, helping firefighters extinguish the fire. That is where he belongs.'
Uzulia also pointed out, “After what happened this summer, in my opinion, the president’s appearance to be on vacation does not correspond to the level of concern that the people are feeling.”
