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Why France's Emmanuel Macron was wearing sunglasses indoors at Davos

Emma Pearson
Emma Pearson - emma.pearson@thelocal.com
Why France's Emmanuel Macron was wearing sunglasses indoors at Davos
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 20, 2026. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The pictures immediately went viral on Tuesday - French president Emmanuel Macron delivering his big speech at the international leaders' summit in Davos, while wearing a pair of reflective aviator shades.

Fashion statement? Trying to look cool and unintimidated by Donald Trump? Hiding a hangover?

Speculation abounded, by apparently there is a more prosaic reason - an eye condition.

Macron has been pictured wearing shades several times over the past week, including at indoor events and meetings, and has explained that he has a "mild eye condition".

He opened a meeting on Monday by saying: "Apologies for the shades, but I have to wear them for a while", adding that he had a "mild eye condition".

French media have reported that it is a burst blood vessel in one eye.

It's not the first time that Macron's fashion choices have caused comment - despite him rarely straying from the French male politician's 'uniform' of dark suit, white shirt and plain tie.

In 2022 he was photographed wearing a hoodie, sparking speculation that he was trying to copy Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, while in 2024 photos published by his official photographer of him in a boxing gym also created something of a frenzy.

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