Macron faces criticism after jet-ski photo appears on magazine cover

President Emmanuel Macron was shown on the cover of Paris Match riding a jet ski along the Riviera while at the presidential retreat in Bregancon Fort, a depiction that opposition parties say trivializes the nation’s crisis. The image, accompanied by captions referencing his departure from the Élysée in 2027, arrived amid a summer of record heatwaves, drought and historic wildfires across France. Greens leader Marine Tondelier, Socialist leader Olivier Faure and Communist Senator Pierre Ouzoulias all condemned the photo, arguing the president should be seen helping with fire-fighting efforts instead.

An aide to Macron claimed the pictures were not authorized and that similar unauthorized images have surfaced each year for the past nine years. Paris Match described the president’s break as "work-focused," noting he kept an office, took phone calls, and also engaged in boxing and running. The controversy highlights tensions between the government’s image and public suffering during the extreme weather season.