Olympic dream fades as France returns to political deadlock and search for a new PM

NEWS WIRES

13 August 2024 at 9:43 am·1-min read

France bid a reluctant farewell to an “enchanted” fortnight of Olympic sport on Monday as French politics returned to political deadlock, with President Emmanuel Macron still needing to choose a prime minister that will appease all the rival factions that emerged from snap elections he called in June.

The Paris Olympics delivered a dazzling summertime success that charmed the world and reaffirmed French national pride. But the hangover will be tough.

With Sunday’s closing ceremony over, President Emmanuel Macron must now deal with a self-created political crisis that he had swept under the carpet until the Games were over.

Talks over government jobs and budget cuts loom, with voter anger sure to follow.

“Now we have to wake up from this beautiful dream,” said Christine Frant, 64, at the Club France fan zone last weekend. “Such a shame we’re going to return to our day-to-day routine, with no government, squabbles in parliament, while here it was all about joy, sharing.”

In a political gamble, Macron called a snap legislative election just weeks before the Games were due to begin. Voters delivered a hung parliament.

Choosing a prime minister who can appease Macron’s centrist camp, a leftist alliance and the far-right National Rally has proven tricky.

The mysterious sabotage on railway and telecoms targets at the start of the Games seemed like an ominous portent, but after that, the event carried on with no further security scares.

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