Jewish far-right TV host in France rules out possible presidential run
After teasing listeners of his radio show earlier this week, and the publication of his purported manifesto, Cyril Hanouna declares speculation ‘an excellent prank,’ all a PR stunt
PARIS (AFP) — Provocative French Jewish radio and television host Cyril Hanouna on Tuesday ruled out making the bold move of a run for the presidency in 2027, after a magazine article and his comments fanned speculation about his possible candidacy.
A star of France’s right-wing media and close to the billionaire media mogul Vincent Bollore, Hanouna teased listeners of his Europe 1 radio show earlier this week that he would tell the “truth” about his intentions on Tuesday or Wednesday.
“I am worried for France,” he told listeners of the daily afternoon show on Tuesday.
“But my only priority in the months, years, centuries to come is to try and make you laugh… to be present for you, be it on the radio or the television.”
“I am not going to stand in 2027, nor in 2032, nor 2037, nor 2042,” he said, reciting the dates of the next presidential elections which are held every five years in France.
Hard-right weekly Valeurs Actuelles stunned France earlier this week by printing what it said were parts of his manifesto.
Valeurs Actuelles described the manifesto as “revolutionary, disruptive and iconoclastic.”
It reportedly included a “French Guantanamo” similar to the US military base in Cuba known for holding suspected Islamist militants that US President Donald Trump’s administration is now using to detain undocumented migrants.
‘Excellent prank’
Hanouna also wanted a minimum monthly salary of 2,200 to 2,300 euros ($2,617) and to replace all ministries with one super ministry in an efficiency drive, it said.
The star earlier on Tuesday told listeners that the article the magazine printed was “not an interview” and it shouldn’t be taken as an announcement of his candidacy.
While Europe 1 drew parallels between Hanouna and how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comic actor, suddenly burst onto Ukraine’s political scene, others have compared him to the Italian comedian-turned-politician Giuseppe Piero “Beppe” Grillo, founder of the Five Star Movement.
The presenter would not take a salary as president, according to the magazine, and would moderate major democratic debates to decide policy, Valeurs Actuelles said.
Hanouna also planned to build a padel court in the gardens of the Elysee Palace, the weekly said. The radio host is apparently obsessed with the fast-growing racket sport.
But Hanouna said that the article had been based on an “excellent prank” about his possible candidacy, which involved sending emails and planting leaks.
“This serves only one purpose: to promote our shows,” he said.
“The only president I would like to be is the president of Paris Saint-Germain,” the French capital’s football club, he added.
A multi-millionaire, Hanouna was reported last month to be dating President Emmanuel Macron’s 41-year-old step-daughter Tiphaine — despite being an outspoken critic of the French leader.
France’s 2027 presidential election remains a wide-open race, with Macron unable to stand for a third time and far-right leader Marine Le Pen potentially unable to stand due to her conviction in a fake jobs trial.
Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old leader of Le Pen’s party who would stand if she were barred, said Tuesday he “does not believe” Hanouna will be a candidate, while saying he had “lots of respect” for his work.
The Times of Israel Community.