DThe Paris Olympics began on Friday with an extravagant opening ceremony, a spectacular mix of French grandeur and Hollywood kitsch. The performance was excessive in every respect, especially in its length. The city of Paris plays a leading role in these Games, in all its historical splendor, but also as the world capital of luxury and fashion, a modern city that promotes inclusion and diversity. France must shine through Paris.
It is an image that is at odds with the situation in the world and in France. The Games are taking place against the backdrop of two wars, in Ukraine and Gaza. The fear of attacks is great. The opening ceremony was guarded by 45,000 police officers. Snipers were on the rooftops, while drones and helicopters monitored the airspace. The night before the opening, the high-speed train network was sabotaged. The perpetrators are still unknown, but the action characterises the atmosphere in which these Games are taking place.
Above all, the spectacular opening contrasted with the deplorable political situation in France. At one time, President Emmanuel Macron no doubt hoped that the Games would illustrate his attempt to reconcile historic France with the modern world. France must no longer cling tenaciously to its acquired rights, Macron said in his first election campaign in 2017, but embrace globalisation and face the world with energy and initiative.
That effort failed miserably. Nothing remains of Macron’s momentum. His position has been further weakened by the parliamentary elections in July. Macron feared that the 2025 budget would not be approved because he did not have a majority in the National Assembly. This was one of the reasons for calling the elections.
But in the new Assembly, the situation is much worse. Parliament is divided into three blocs (left, centre and radical right) that do not want to cooperate with each other. A new budget must be drawn up and adopted while there is still no government and the European Commission launched a procedure on Friday because the French budget deficit and national debt exceed European standards. There is a threat of deadlock because parliament is divided and the president has lost his authority.
Politicians always hope to cash in on sporting success. When France won the 2018 World Cup, Macron danced on a table in the Moscow stadium (at that time, the West still believed that Russia could be contained with economic sanctions). Everything seemed to be going well for the young president, but a few months later his decline began with the uprising of the yellow vests.
The Olympic Games, followed by a long holiday, will probably distract attention from political problems in France. But after the traditional return They will be back in full force at the beginning of September. Macron is used to governing from above. Now he must hope that a constructive coalition will form out of the fragmented Assembly with which he can work together. But today Macron is no longer bothered by this: even the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was held in torrential rain.
The position of the newspaper is expressed in the Volkskrant commentary. It is the result of a discussion between the commentators and the editor-in-chief.
