Eric Cantona announces presidency bid
source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9003925/Eric-Cantona-announces-bid-f...
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Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona has announced a bid to run for the French presidency.
The footballer is currently trying to gather the required 500 signatures of elected officials before the end of February and has asked for support from French mayors.
“This engagement obliges me to speak, more earnestly than usual,” he said in his letter, “but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country faces difficult choices which will be decisive for its future.”
His letter – which was printed in the Liberation newspaper – went on to say that there are limited opportunities available to young people in France and that ‘too numerous, too violent, too systematic’ social injustices existed.
Candidates for the presidency must compete in a first round of elections in April with the most successful candidates going forward to a second round in May.
However, Cantona’s chances of reaching the second round are thought to be extremely poor without the backing of a political party.
UPDATE: Widely reported to be a publicity stunt, Cantona's campaign for presidency is thought to be a call urging politicians to sign a petition on the French housing crisis that's being compiled by charity the Abbé Pierre Foundation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9003925/Eric-Cantona-ann...
The footballer is currently trying to gather the required 500 signatures of elected officials before the end of February and has asked for support from French mayors.
“This engagement obliges me to speak, more earnestly than usual,” he said in his letter, “but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country faces difficult choices which will be decisive for its future.”
His letter – which was printed in the Liberation newspaper – went on to say that there are limited opportunities available to young people in France and that ‘too numerous, too violent, too systematic’ social injustices existed.
Candidates for the presidency must compete in a first round of elections in April with the most successful candidates going forward to a second round in May.
However, Cantona’s chances of reaching the second round are thought to be extremely poor without the backing of a political party.
UPDATE: Widely reported to be a publicity stunt, Cantona's campaign for presidency is thought to be a call urging politicians to sign a petition on the French housing crisis that's being compiled by charity the Abbé Pierre Foundation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9003925/Eric-Cantona-ann...
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- tags:
- President, France, Presidency, Eric Cantona
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smurph25
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I wonder what Thierry Henry thinks of this, since he's a French player, and Eric's coach for the New York Red Bulls (as he is in the Arsenal squad on loan for a couple of months)...
- 5 months ago
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smurph25
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Scott_Pert [removed]
- This comment was removed by its owner.
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Scott_Pert [removed]
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mattsoper
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Scott_Pert:
Sure is! And it had us fooled... briefly. ;)
- 5 months ago
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mattsoper
