Leila AbboudJun 24, 2026 – 3.49pmFrance has a new summer ritual to complement quaffing rosé and taking languorous holidays: fighting over air-conditioning.As an intense heatwave sent temperatures above 40C this week in cities from Bordeaux to Nantes, far-right presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen accused leftist parties and green activists of ideologically opposing air-conditioning at the expense of public health.Financial TimesSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
To cool or not to cool: Aircon the new culture war as Europe swelters
As the heatwave intensifies, the far-right is championing air-conditioning while the left is calling for renovations and green spaces.
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