French Minister Under Fire for Playboy Cover Amid Pension Reform Strikes Crisis
French government minister Marlene Schiappa's decision to appear on the cover of Playboy magazine has sparked outrage among members of her own party and other politicians, who see it as an embarrassing distraction from the country's deepening social crisis.
Schiappa, 48, a self-proclaimed advocate for women's rights, was photographed wearing a white dress in a provocative pose. The image accompanied a 12-page interview on women's and LGBT rights that she conducted with the magazine.
Critics argue that Schiappa's cover shoot is out of touch with the current social climate, which is marked by protests over France's proposed pension reform. The move has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who called it "not appropriate," especially during a period when the country is facing a severe crisis.
The controversy comes as France grapples with its biggest challenge since World War II: pension reform. Public opposition to the reforms has grown significantly in recent weeks, and protests have turned violent.
French President Emmanuel Macron's move to push ahead with the reforms despite widespread public opposition has further exacerbated tensions. Critics argue that his actions are tone-deaf and neglect the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Schiappa's defenders say she was trying to send a message about women's rights and empowerment, while her critics accuse her of using her platform for personal gain.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin came to Schiappa's defense on Sunday, calling her a "woman of character" who respects the public's right to criticize her.
French government minister Marlene Schiappa's decision to appear on the cover of Playboy magazine has sparked outrage among members of her own party and other politicians, who see it as an embarrassing distraction from the country's deepening social crisis.
Schiappa, 48, a self-proclaimed advocate for women's rights, was photographed wearing a white dress in a provocative pose. The image accompanied a 12-page interview on women's and LGBT rights that she conducted with the magazine.
Critics argue that Schiappa's cover shoot is out of touch with the current social climate, which is marked by protests over France's proposed pension reform. The move has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who called it "not appropriate," especially during a period when the country is facing a severe crisis.
The controversy comes as France grapples with its biggest challenge since World War II: pension reform. Public opposition to the reforms has grown significantly in recent weeks, and protests have turned violent.
French President Emmanuel Macron's move to push ahead with the reforms despite widespread public opposition has further exacerbated tensions. Critics argue that his actions are tone-deaf and neglect the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Schiappa's defenders say she was trying to send a message about women's rights and empowerment, while her critics accuse her of using her platform for personal gain.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin came to Schiappa's defense on Sunday, calling her a "woman of character" who respects the public's right to criticize her.
#PensionReformProbs are taking over France and here's Minister Schiappa posing for Playboy? 
It's not exactly the best timing, especially when protests are getting violent and people are talking about actual social issues that need attention. I mean, is she trying to be a feminist icon or just using her platform for personal gain? 
Either way, it feels like she's being tone-deaf and ignoring the concerns of regular folks. Can't we just focus on solving the pension crisis instead of this drama? 
#NotTheTimeForPlayboy
pension reform is super important, and instead we're talking about some celebrity thing... 
and now it's causing divisions within the party too... 
the gov't needs to focus on what really matters, not on her ego or whatever she thinks she's promoting... 
she's supposed to be a pro for women's rights but it feels like she's just using that as an excuse to get attention and boost her profile 
meanwhile, prime minister elisabeth borne is trying to keep it real and not have schiappa's antics distract us from the actual crisis at hand 
n now shes gettin roasted by her own party 
schiappi defenders say she's tryna promote empowerment but i call BS, it's just a way 2 stay relevant 
she was talking about women's rights and empowerment in that interview, so I get why some people thought it'd be a good idea for her to share that message on the cover. But at the same time, this is a pretty big deal right now with pension reform and protests everywhere. Can't we just focus on one issue without getting distracted? 
Schiappa should focus on getting seniors paid first!