France is not politically capable of managing major international events

The political situation in France is complicated. The right and left parties in France claim that they are the winners of the elections, while French President Emmanuel Macron insists that the elections did not have a winner. The left-wing parties consider themselves the winners of the elections, and the right-wing parties argue that the French have voted for them, counting the 146 seats of the National Assembly Party. The moderates who lost their seats are trying to bridge the gap, but for now, no one seems interested in bridging the gap.

The political impasse in France is a reflection of the internal differences, above all, between the moderate socialists and the left-wing “Insurgent France” party. According to the New York Times, this is just one of several impasses that have paralyzed France politically. “Sophie Binet”, the general secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions in France, calls for a massive demonstration in front of the National Assembly with the aim of pressuring the introduction of the left-wing government. He wrote in an article in Liberation newspaper this week: “Macron wants to steal our victory.” Right-wing lawmakers, including National Assembly leader Marine Le Pen and some other moderate conservatives, have also said they will quickly topple any new National Front government.

Therefore, to investigate this issue further, the Young Journalists Club arranged an interview with Andrei Kogan, a journalist and political activist from Moscow, which you can see below.

-How do you think France is able to manage the Olympic Games from the point of view Is it political?

Andrei Kogan: France will hold the Olympic Games this year. The country has historically been known for its strong organizational capabilities, particularly in hosting major events such as the Olympic Games. However, the current political climate, characterized by unrest and social protests, poses significant challenges for the country. The French government may need to manage public opposition and ensure safety, which could divert attention and resources from event preparations. It would not be wrong to claim that France is capable of managing the Olympic Games. However, the quality of management is questionable as a result of political and social tensions within France’s borders. Protests are a reality in France, and while they can disrupt games, the extent of that disruption largely depends on the government’s response and ability to maintain public order. If tensions remain high, there is a possibility that protests will coincide with events and affect logistics, security, and even the presence of people.

Therefore, due to the political and military crisis in the Gaza Strip, Disruption of the Olympic Games by protesters is common. It is quite obvious that the fans of different national teams will be from many countries of the world. For example, fans of the Israeli team and the Egyptian team (for example). As many know, Israel has very complicated relations with the countries of the Islamic world such as Egypt, Iran and many others. Obviously, these tensions appear not only at the level of state actors or governments, but also at the personal level. Accordingly, many provocations may occur as a result of Israeli crimes in Gaza and Rafah, and the police must respond to resolve these conflicts. Hence, many pro-Palestinian protesters may participate in such events to fight Israeli representatives, and this factor may spoil the celebrations associated with the Olympic Games; And finally, we must never forget the cause of the yellow vest movement, which can still flare up at a very unpredictable moment, because now the financial markets are also ready for any change and the price of oil is higher than ever. Therefore, the representatives of the pro-Palestinian movements and the yellow vests may become a serious challenge for the security of French cities and greatly disrupt the Olympic Games process.

-how much do you know about the impact of political differences and problems on France’s ability to manage the situation?

Andrei Kogan: It goes without saying that the impact of internal disputes, such as labor strikes or political disputes, can have a direct impact on the organization of the Olympic Games. Such discrepancies may result in disruption of transportation, accommodation or other services critical to the success of the event. Furthermore, if the government fails to address these issues, it can create a negative atmosphere that affects the international perception of the games.

-What role will the French judiciary play?

Andrei Kogan: The French judicial system is well-established and experienced in dealing with public order issues, but its effectiveness will be sorely tested during the Olympics. The capacity to manage legal disputes arising from protests as well as ensuring safety and security will be very important. Adequate safeguards and preparedness plans are in place to deal promptly and fairly with any legal challenges and ensure that the event can proceed with minimal disruption. However, the French judicial system may be politically biased towards pro-Palestinian demonstrators, which will once again demonstrate the lack of democracy in France.

In conclusion, while France has the ability To effectively manage the Olympic Games, it must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the current political tensions. The interaction between social unrest, internal disputes and the legal framework affects the overall success of the event. Preparing for possible disruptions is essential to ensure that the Olympic Games can be a celebration of sport and unity, despite the surrounding socio-political challenges. But it is quite complicated to say whether France is able to achieve the upcoming goals or not.

Andrei Kogan is a journalist and political activist from Moscow, Russia, and is active in most of the country’s media, including Rashatoudi. In one of his last television interviews on French channel 5, he called the Zionist regime a fascist and criminal entity. He is one of those who was actively present at the border of Ukraine to cover the news until last month and was the stationed correspondent of Rashatudi to send the latest developments of the war.

Reporter and translator: Samia Khalili