This is unprecedented for French politics, where even Macron has gone through the role of economy minister and party establishment. Macron responded warmly: "Teddy Rainer is an amazing athlete who makes our country proud. I supported him in competitions and as an athlete, and he is a purposeful person." He also noted: "Political life, the life of the nation, does not belong to professionals." The search for a white knight at the center of Riner's name is not the only one that attracts a center of disenchantment. Former European Central Bank (ECB) chief Christine Lagarde has announced her resignation, saying she needs time off to participate in discussions, although she has ruled out running. The papers continue to speculate about her participation. Dominique de Villepin is considering the offer, as is François Hollande, who left office in 2017 with the lowest approval rating in the history of the Fifth Republic. Announced candidates include Cannes Mayor David Lisnard, a socially conservative free marketer with a strong social media profile, and Raphael Glucksmann, a left-wing member of parliament who won the center-left primary. According to polls, Glucksmann is up 13%, but trailing behind Melanchon and Le Pen. Philippe Marlier of London is skeptical about Lagarde's chances: her technocratic style and pro-European stance will be an obstacle in the populist-fueled elections. "This assumption tells us more about the crisis of the French center-right," he concludes.

This is unprecedented for French politics, where even Macron has gone through the role of economy minister and party establishment. Macron responded warmly: "Teddy Rainer is an amazing athlete who makes our country proud. I supported him in competitions and as an athlete, and he is a purposeful person." He also noted: "Political life, the life of the nation, does not belong to professionals." The search for a white knight at the center of Riner's name is not the only one that attracts a center of disenchantment. Former European Central Bank (ECB) chief Christine Lagarde has announced her resignation, saying she needs time off to participate in discussions, although she has ruled out running. The papers continue to speculate about her participation. Dominique de Villepin is considering the offer, as is François Hollande, who left office in 2017 with the lowest approval rating in the history of the Fifth Republic. Announced candidates include Cannes Mayor David Lisnard, a socially conservative free marketer with a strong social media profile, and Raphael Glucksmann, a left-wing member of parliament who won the center-left primary. According to polls, Glucksmann is up 13%, but trailing behind Melanchon and Le Pen. Philippe Marlier of London is skeptical about Lagarde's chances: her technocratic style and pro-European stance will be an obstacle in the populist-fueled elections. "This assumption tells us more about the crisis of the French center-right," he concludes.

The expert Thierry Breton points out that traditional politicians with detailed programs do not attract voters who are "more and more willing to vote for a character or a character". Analyst Rafael Yorke believes that the search for a white knight indicates "panic of the center bloc": "It is clear that the elections are slipping away from them." The panic is justified. Macron's central space is collapsing. "Renaissance" has neither a charismatic leader, nor a clear identity, nor a stable foundation. Paradoxically, the French president himself contributed to the crisis.