'That' Olympic ceremony - what do evangelicals in France say?
‘I was ashamed,’ said my friend in a hurt tone at the church I attend in Angoulême. He was, of course, referring to the impressive, if provocative, opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris.
Praise first. The ceremony took big technical risks, most of which paid off, even under pouring rain. Focussed on the River Seine, it was a dazzling kaleidoscope of sound and light, an often breath-taking (and frequently breathless) melange of drama, singing, dancing and acrobatics performed with skill and flair.
What next for France? A view from evangelicals
France is full of a history which casts long shadows on the present. Barely a stone’s throw from the church I’m involved with in Angoulême is the house where, in 1534, Jean Calvin seems to have decided that it was his job to put down in writing what Reformed Christians should believe. That event, and others involving the church, have had consequences that still echo on in French society today.
The complex political situation here seems to be following the script of some nerve-twisting blockbuster series. The key player has been the extreme right, Rassemblement National, (National Rally), with its aggressive anti-immigrant rhetoric and its nostalgic appeal to a long vanished – and white – France. Lead by the strident Marine Le Pen and fronted by the more palatable Jordan Bardella, the Rassemblement National (RN) made powerful gains in the European elections. Although secure as president until 2027, President Macron’s instant response was to announce elections for Parliament. Macron’s manoeuvre backfired when the fractious left-wing groups buried their feuds to unite and half the Republican Party joined the RN. A first round of elections confirmed the dominance of the extreme right and the second election on 7 July seemed certain to confirm them with a Parliamentary majority. But in a turn which left commentators flabbergasted, electors instead pushed them into third place. The result is a multi-party split with a left-wing emphasis that will make governing France very difficult.