A photo of Emmanuel Macron on vacation at the Fort de Brégançon has sparked outrage from the opposition. The Socialist Party's first secretary, Olivier Faure, strongly criticized the president after the publication of a picture showing him on a jet ski, while France is experiencing a major heatwave and battling wildfires. The photograph was published on the cover of Paris Match on Thursday . Emmanuel Macron is seen riding a jet ski, wearing sunglasses, off the coast of Brégançon, in the Var region, where the president is spending part of his summer vacation.
"Is that the message?"
Olivier Faure immediately reacted on X, contrasting the image of the presidential vacation with the situation faced by a portion of the country. "During the heatwave, when France is burning, when some French people haven't been able to go on vacation, the president is having fun jet skiing in Brégançon. Is that the message? It's very well done," wrote the Socialist Party leader. This was a direct attack on the image projected by the head of state. Olivier Faure doesn't explicitly criticize the president for taking a vacation, but rather targets the publication of a photograph showing him engaging in a leisure activity during a period of intense heat and wildfires.
Macron on the front page Paris Match
The photo appears on the cover of Paris Match with the headline "Last Summer in Charge." Emmanuel Macron is pictured in profile on his jet ski, looking directly at the camera. The president is staying at the Fort de Brégançon, the official residence of the French presidents, located in Bormes-les-Mimosas. His summer stays in the Var region have regularly resulted in the publication of photographs showing him engaged in his private or sporting activities. This year, Emmanuel Macron is reportedly practicing boxing, running, jet skiing, and foil surfing during his stay.
A photo that sparks criticism
The publication of this cover quickly sparked numerous political reactions. The contrast between the image of the president on a jet ski and the heatwave gripping the country was particularly denounced by several opposition leaders. Olivier Faure chose to focus his criticism on this symbol, also pointing out that a significant portion of the French population does not go on vacation. The controversy, therefore, centers less on Emmanuel Macron's stay in Brégançon than on the photograph chosen to depict his holiday at a time when temperatures remain exceptionally high and wildfires are raging across the country.
Brégançon, a traditional summer destination for presidents
Emmanuel Macron is not the first head of state to use the Fort de Brégançon for his holidays. This presidential residence in the Var region has hosted French presidents and their families for decades. Since his arrival at the Élysée Palace in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has regularly stayed there during the summer. His water sports activities have already been photographed on several occasions, notably his jet ski outings. This time, the timing of the photo's publication was enough to provoke a new political confrontation. For Olivier Faure, the message sent by this image is unambiguous: "During the heatwave, when France is burning, the president is having fun jet skiing at Brégançon."
