France in turmoil ahead of Olympics

The build-up to the world's biggest sporting event is usually stressful for host nations, but French President Emmanuel Macron made things even more complicated last month when he unexpectedly called for early parliamentary elections.

"Hung Parliament" and who will run the Olympics?

The second round of elections on Sunday resulted in a “hung parliament”, making it very difficult to organize the Olympics, which open on July 26, because it is not clear who will hold key positions in the government.

Crowds protest at Place de la Republique in Paris after the French parliamentary elections. Photo: Reuters

The election results have left the French National Assembly divided into three main groups, none of which has a majority and is unlikely to cooperate to form a new government.

Specifically, the left-wing alliance won 182 seats, President Macron's centrist faction won 168 seats and 143 seats for the National Front Party (RN) out of a total of 577 seats in the French National Assembly.

"Our country is facing an unprecedented political situation and is preparing to welcome the world in a few weeks," 35-year-old Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday evening as he submitted his resignation, which was later rejected by President Macron "to ensure the stability of the country at the present time".

It is unclear whether the head of state wants to maintain the interim government until the end of the Paris Olympics on August 11, but the left-wing coalition that led the election has pushed ahead with naming a candidate to replace Mr Attal.

The future of Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who oversees security preparations for the Games, is also at stake. "The things that the organizers worry about most are crime, and of course terrorism, as well as traffic... the interior minister is the most important position," Paul Dietschy, professor of history and sport at the University of Franche-Comte in France, told AFP.

Airport strike ahead of Olympics

In another development on Monday, unions representing workers at ADP, which operates Paris' two main airports, said they had called for a strike next week to demand Olympic bonuses for all staff.

Protesters set off flares in Nantes, France after the French parliamentary elections. Photo: AP

Paris airports will be the main gateway into France for foreign visitors to the Games, with up to 350,000 people expected to transit through each day, as well as most of the athletes and their equipment.

The strike, scheduled for July 17, will take place just before athletes are due to take up residence at the newly built Olympic Village north of Paris.

Police, air traffic controllers, garbage collectors, government employees, subway and train drivers and firefighters have all demanded pay raises ahead of the Olympics, in an effort to use this leverage.

Ahead of the 1998 World Cup in France, the last time the country hosted a major sporting event, pilots from national airline Air France went on strike the night before kick-off along with taxi drivers and other transport workers.

In France, the election has completely overshadowed the prestigious sporting event, with local media paying more attention to political moves than to new sports facilities nearing completion around the capital Paris.

“If Macron hadn’t dissolved parliament, there would have been a little more enthusiasm for the Olympics,” said Professor Dietschy. “You don’t really feel the excitement building. Most French people are focused on the election.”

Bui Huy (according to France24, AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nuoc-phap-roi-vao-tinh-trang-hon-loan-truoc-them-olympic-2024-post302729.html