France's Macron sees Notre Dame cathedral's restoration more than 5 years after it was gutted by fire
CBSNOV 2024
Paris: Notre-Dame Cathedral Restored 5 Years After Fire
Above: French Pres. Emmanuel Macron speaks with an art restorer during his visit at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, on Nov. 29, 2024. Image copyright: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The restoration represents a triumph of French craftsmanship and determination, successfully meeting Pres. Macron's ambitious five-year deadline while making the cathedral even more beautiful than before through meticulous attention to historical detail and preservation of cultural heritage.
Narrative B
This is certainly a monumental achievement but the cathedral is far from being fully restored. With an unfinished exterior and construction equipment still cluttering the premises, it seems that Macron has declared an early victory in an obvious attempt to bolster his administration.