“I am not a Macronist,” says Teddy Riner, describing the head of state’s congratulations on his presidential candidacy as a “poisoned kiss.”

I am not a Macronist.

Teddy Riner refused to be assimilated to Emmanuel Macron and, on Saturday November 14 during a visit to the Made in France show in Paris, described the congratulations of the Head of State after the announcement of his candidacy for the presidential election as a “poisoned kiss”. “I am not the president’s envoy. I am not a Macronist,” said the five-time Olympic champion judoka, surrounded by dozens of cameras and photographers.

His positioning "neither right nor left", put forward during his candidacy announcement, led some of his competitors and commentators to present him as an heir to the Head of State, especially since no candidate from the central bloc has yet found favor in the eyes of the President of the Republic. The latter also said he was “very happy” with his candidacy, which according to him can only “bring to the country”.

“I don’t come from any political family (…) I come with my ideas, my ambitions,” he insisted. “I believe that France belongs neither to the right nor to the left. She belongs to a family, to people who get up every morning, work hard and need help. »