Ex Manchester United football ace Eric Cantona has added another level to the American style actor-to-politician transformation. French Cantona has gone one better: footballer to actor to president. Never one to aim low in his sports career, Cantona has gone straight for the top spot in French politics. He has written to French mayors asking for the necessary 500 mayoral signatures to run for the presidency. Cantona says he will “make a simple but clear message, a message of truth but with respect, solidarity and a powerful message. A message awaited by our country and the millions of families whose daily suffering is forgotten.”

Already active in public life, Eric Cantona has acted as a patron for French housing charity Fondation Abbé-Pierre. Back in the pre- Sarkozy days, then incumbent president Jaques Chirac won a further term essentially on the 'anyone's better than Le Pen' vote. Cantona could benefit from the 'not Sarkozy' vote. However, there are plenty other candidates for that role.

The US already has a strong tradition of voting actors and celebrities into high public office: governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, president Ronald Reagan, governor Clint Eastwood. Actor Martin Sheen, who played President Bartlett in the hit series 'The West Wing' broke the mold when he ruled out categorically a move from playing to being the president.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Wikipedia)