French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after it was revealed that he attended a Celine Dion concert just before a nationwide general strike and protests. Video footage of the president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, dancing in a VIP box has sparked outrage, with public sentiment comparing the scene to that of Emperor Nero playing the harp while Rome burned.
According to reports on October 22, Macron and Brigitte attended Dion's concert at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, near Paris, on the evening of October 16. This was the 15th performance of Dion's 16-show Paris tour, marking her return to the stage after battling health issues. Footage from the event shows the couple singing along and swaying to Dion's hits from their private VIP box.
The timing of their attendance has drawn ire, as France was on the brink of a nationwide strike and protests against high living costs and government cuts to public services. The following day, large-scale demonstrations erupted in major cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, leading to incidents of arson and property damage, with thousands arrested by police.
Opposition parties quickly condemned Macron's actions. The left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right National Rally (RN) issued statements criticizing the president and his wife for attending a concert while citizens prepared to protest their economic struggles. Local media and social media users have also drawn parallels to historical figures like Emperor Nero and Marie Antoinette, expressing discontent with the perceived disconnect from reality.
This is not the first time Macron has faced backlash for attending a concert during a period of social unrest. In June 2023, he was criticized for attending an Elton John concert amid nationwide riots following the police shooting of a teenage boy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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