French President Emmanuel Macron is not in Marseille for the Top 14 final between Toulouse and Bordeaux. René Bouscatel and Florian Grill will be in charge of the pre-match protocol.
It’s a question that could be asked two days before the first round of the legislative elections: would Emmanuel Macron be present at the Stade Vélodrome for the Top 14 final?
The answer is no. The President of the Republic thus deviates from the protocol which sees the Head of State usually present for the last match of the championship. However, the long pre-match ceremony has not been canceled. It will be carried out by the presidents of the two federations, René Bouscatel for the LNR and Florian Grill for the FFR.
The Elysée services did not justify this absence. This is the first time that Emmanuel Macron has been absent from a Top 14 final. We remember that last season, he shared a festive moment with the Toulouse champions by downing a beer in one. During the pre-match protocol, Stade Rochelais right pillar Uini Atonio had slipped him a few words: “you’re moving my passport forward, eh!”
The government will still be represented at this final in Marseille with the presence of the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. But the latter will not be present on the field to shake the players’ hands.
