The release of official photos depicting French President Emmanuel Macron exercising, specifically hitting a punching bag, has generated a mixed reaction in France, The Guardian reports.
The black-and-white images, shared on Instagram by his official photographer, show Macron with a determined expression and bulging biceps during a workout session. Some praised the photos, likening him to Rocky Balboa, while others questioned their timing amid calls for Europe to address the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Some saw the photos as a display of virility similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s image-building efforts.
French Greens MP Sandrine Rousseau expressed disappointment, labeling it a setback for progressivism, while other commentators deemed it a poor choice in political communication.
Macron’s interest in boxing is known, his wife revealed that he trains twice a week in an interview last year, and he has previously been photographed with boxing gloves to promote exercise ahead of the Paris Olympics.
