To cool or not to cool: Aircon the new culture war as Europe swelters
by Leila Abboud · Australian Financial ReviewLeila Abboud
Jun 24, 2026 – 3.49pm
France 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.
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