A bitterly divided France comes together for the Paris Olympics
PARIS — Cries of “allez les blues” and spontaneous singing of “La Marseillais” have filled sports venues and the streets here in the French capital for more than a week now.
PARIS — Cries of “allez les blues” and spontaneous singing of “La Marseillais” have filled sports venues and the streets here in the French capital for more than a week now.
Coming shortly after a bitter national election and years of local skepticism over the Olympics, the joyful waving of the tricolor seems to have taken some locals by surprise.
"We are just one nation for this moment, from this moment. There is no politics," architect Jérémy Boutier told NBC News outside a 3x3 basketball game. "It is very particular."
Fans show their support as France's Leon Marchand.Sarah Stier / Getty ImagesAn empowered far right was prevented from forming a government during the second round of recent snap elections called by President Emmanuel Macron, but the country is still bitterly divided and unsure of its political future.
But the far-right National Rally party’s unprecedented success was a rebuke of some of Macron’s most controversial policies, including pension plan and abolishing a tax on France’s richest, and came as many voters became disillusioned with politics as usual.
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