Inside France: The film blacklist and the right to beauty

A national financial prosecutor opened an embezzlement investigation into Edouard Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre, his deputy, and another local official. The case centers on the awarding of contracts in Le Havre and is described as technical, but Philippe’s role as a leading 2027 presidential contender makes it headline material. The potential impact on his campaign is uncertain, since his main rivals face similar problems. Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement in 2025 and is likely ineligible, while her deputy Jordan Bardella is under investigation for suspected misuse of EU funds by his party. The pace of investigations raises the possibility of a runoff between two candidates facing financial impropriety probes. Separately, Cannes featured a major dispute involving Canal+ and hundreds of film professionals who signed a petition against Canal+ owner Vincent Bollo’s influence on French cultural life.

"Another week, another investigation launched into a French politician . . . This time the national financial prosecutor announced that it is opening an embezzlement investigation into Edouard Philippe, the mayor Le Havre, his deputy and another local official. The investigation itself is kind of technical, all about the awarding of contracts in Le Havre, and if it had been any other local mayor it would be unlikely to make headlines. But Philippe is not just mayor of Le Havre, he's a front-runner in the 2027 presidential election race and current polls (albeit we're still a year out) suggest that he's the best placed candidate to beat the far right."

"So will this scupper his chances? Well it might, but his main rivals have embezzlement problems of their own - Marine Le Pen was convicted of it in 2025 so will probably be ineligible to stand, and her deputy Jordan Bardella is also under investigation, this time over suspected misuse of EU funds by his party. Both of these men could be completely cleared of wrong-doing (and both of them deny it), but given the pace that these investigations move at, there is now a distinct possibility that the election second round next year will be between two men who are both under investigation for financial impropriety."

"I wonder why it is that voters are becoming disengaged? READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Could an embezzlement probe cost French centrist Philippe the election? Blacklist This year's Cannes film festival has mostly been notable for an almighty row that blew up between Canal+, one of the largest French film studios, and 600 actors, directors and technicians who signed a petition against what they see as the excessive influence on French cultural life of Canal+ owner Vincent Bollo"

"This year's Cannes film festival has mostly been notable for an almighty row that blew up between Canal+, one of the largest French film studios, and 600 actors, directors and technicians who signed a petition against what they see as the excessive influence on French cultural life of Canal+ owner Vincent Bollo"

Read at www.thelocal.fr