Teddy Riner won't really win in France - but exposed its big problem

Teddy Riner, winner of five Olympic gold medals in judo, announced his entry into the French election campaign, but according to the article he does not pose a real threat to the presidency. Marine Le Pen continues to lead in the polls, and centrist voters fear a head-on clash between her and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Teddy Riner, winner of five Olympic gold medals in judo, announced his entry into the French election campaign, but according to the article he is not really meant to pose a threat to the presidency. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen continues to maintain a promising lead in the polls for many months. Centrist voters fear a head-on clash between Le Pen and Mélenchon. Jean-Daniel Lévy, deputy director of the Toluna polling institute, explained that these voters feel like an 'orphaned electorate' still searching for an inspiring leader. Raphaël Llorca of the Jean Jaurès Foundation added that the search for a knight on a white horse indicates 'the panic of the centrist bloc'. Riner's name is not the only one tempting frustrated centrists; Christine Lagarde, former finance minister, resigned from the presidency of the European Central Bank to join political discussions, and other figures such as Dominique de Villepin and François Hollande are considering their steps. Among the candidates who have already declared their run, David Lisnard and Raphaël Glucksmann have seen a surge in the polls, with the common denominator being that none of them worked under President Macron. Riner, who has never run for office, positions himself as a candidate who is neither right nor left and hopes to attract young voters. President Macron welcomed the move.