Pornography scandal shocks France

Health Minister Agnès Buzyn is Macroni's new candidate, said to have revived a political campaign that stopped suddenly Friday. The campaign was for the prestigious Paris Mayor's office. “La République en Marche” (LREM) lost to Benjamin Griveaux the candidate: he resigned because of a sex video. A political disaster for local elections to be held in France for a month.

Hot Internet Video

Former Socialist politician Griveaux is one of Macroni's closest loyal ones served him in the presidential election campaign and later as government spokesman. But his candidacy was controversial at the party. Exertrick mathematician Cédric Villani, another LREM politician, also presented his claims to Paris City. In January, Villani was finally expelled from the party to improve Greveaux's chances.

So now the total crash. There are different versions of what happened. Clearly, Twitter has circulated a video from Thursday showing a man jerking off is believed to be Griveaux. The politician complained of a campaign against him and his circle in the BFMTV news channel on Friday: “for more than a year, my family and I have been exposed to slanderous statements, lies, rumors, anonymous attacks (...) and death threats”. The politician did not deny the existence of a compromised video. The Meédiapart intelligence platform also cites delicate text messages on the mobile phone for a woman believed to be not his wife.

Cause a Russian actor?

Pyotr Pavlenski, a prominent Russian artist, claims he has put the data in circulation last week through the closed website Pornopolique.com. In recent years, Pawlenski has constantly called attention to spectacular actions. Among other things, he sat naked before Mausoleum Lenin at the Red Square in Moscow and nailed his organ. Another time he wrapped himself up with wires. In protest against the Russian leadership, he also set fire to the secret interior service headquarters, FSB.

In France this refugee from Russia enjoys political asylum almost exactly since Macron took office, but he also knows France's prison. He had set fire to a branch of Banque de France in Paris.

Political Class Criticality

There is a debate in France whether publishing the intimate images of a politician should be considered an artistic political act. In any case, Pawlenski claims the political dimension of the video. It criticises the country's alleged degeneration of politics.

Greveaux's statements of solidarity have arrived from all political parties. So far, a politician's private life was considered taboo in France, but with the internet it has changed. Journalists, who in the past were well informed of the countless relatives of high-ranking politicians and do not sacrifice "are now losing their position as blockors of published thought.

Griveaux is now considered the first politician in France to fall from an affair. The fact that the 42-year-old sends sex videos on the Internet is said to be further in the debate in France, sheds a bad light on Macron's trust.

Sensitive Choices

For the president, the Paris staff change comes not many months before local elections. Governmenting the capital is not only considered particularly prestigious in France, but in Paris, LREM has also had the highest quotas of support in the past.

But the candidacy didn't look successful, even before the video was published. In recent polls, Griveaux ranked third after socialist and post holder Anne Hidalgo and conservative Rachida Dati with no prospect for victory.

Even in other major cities, there is a reinforcement of traditional parties, with tested political frameworks. The Macron movement, which initially attracted many newcomers to politics, has clearly lost its momentum as the ruling party and is certainly difficult to control as a party. In 16 of France's 60 largest cities, En Marche's dissidents run against official party candidates. Furthermore, exits from the party and the transition of other parties are on the rise. The effects of vested protests and pension reform do the rest. For 58-year-old Agnès Buzyn, the success will be considered if it comes up with dignity in March from the campaign. / DW