The Straits Times Podcasts S2E48: The two rules that Parisians broke in the hot summer of 2025
Nov 6, 2025
In this discussion, Jonathan Eyal, a seasoned global affairs correspondent, dives into the shifting landscape of French political privacy. He highlights the historic norms long upheld in France—where politicians' personal lives were largely off-limits—but reveals how this summer shattered those expectations. Eyal analyzes the recent lawsuit by President Macron against damaging rumors and the growing influence of social media that fuels polarization and disinformation. He also touches on evolving gender norms and the fragility of Macron's political standing amidst it all.
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Paris’s Two Broken Political Rules
- Two long-standing French rules broke in summer 2025: no politics in summer and politicians' private lives were off-limits.
- Both norms collapsed amid intense protests and new scrutiny of President Macron's personal life.
Macron Couple’s Unusual Lawsuit
- Macron and his wife sued an American influencer and two French citizens over a claim that Brigitte Macron was born male.
- The couple took unprecedented legal action to fight the scurrilous allegation.
Social Media Ended Old Media Gatekeeping
- Social media ended the old media monopoly and the self-censorship that protected politicians' private lives.
- Anyone can now generate and amplify stories, undermining traditional gatekeepers.