Paris’s mayoral race is drawing support from the arts community, as a growing number of prominent figures rally behind socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire. The endorsements come as Grégoire leads in early polling for the election, according to Le Parisien.
Agnès Jaoui, Cédric Klapisch, Laure Calamy, Denis Podalydès, and Sara Giraudeau are among the well-known names backing Grégoire, who was previously the first deputy to current Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo. The support was unveiled recently, signaling a concerted effort to mobilize cultural influence in the campaign. This influx of celebrity endorsements highlights the increasing intersection of arts and politics in the French capital.
Meanwhile, Lyes Louffok, a children’s rights activist and former candidate for La France Insoumise (LFI), has publicly endorsed Grégoire, a move that has sparked controversy and online harassment. Louffok, who ran for legislative office twice under the LFI banner, announced on March 5 that he had closed his social media accounts due to the “violence” he’s faced from within the party, BFMTV reports.
“They can say what they want, I protect myself by creating distance and dedicating myself entirely to my work,” Louffok stated, adding, “Now, with LFI, it’s finished. I no longer want to deal with them.” He accused members of the party of falsely claiming he had betrayed them. Grégoire has publicly condemned the harassment Louffok has experienced, calling it “perfectly unacceptable” in a post on X (formerly Twitter), as reported by startpage.
Louffok explained his support for Grégoire, describing the socialist candidate as “the most useful choice for placed children.” The activist had previously supported Jean-Luc Mélenchon in 2022. The situation underscores the internal divisions within the French left as the municipal elections approach, and the challenges candidates face navigating political alliances and public scrutiny.
According to an exclusive poll, Grégoire currently leads voting intentions in the first round with 35%, ahead of Rachida Dati at 27%, Le Parisien similarly reported.
