A confidante of France’s President Emmanuel Macron has withdrawn from the race for Paris City Hall after the release of suggestive videos and chat messages.
„A website and social networks have spread hideous attacks on my privacy,“ said Benjamin Griveaux today. He no longer wanted his family to do this. The 42-year-old had recently performed rather poorly in surveys. The presidential party La Republique en Marche (LREM) is now without official candidates.
Action artist wants to have published videos
A website had released screenshots of suggestive chat messages that Griveaux allegedly posted on Wednesday evening. She also shows short videos that show how a man masturbates – but it is not clear who they are. Griveaux is accused of hypocrisy on the website.
In his statement, Griveaux has neither confirmed nor denied that the videos and news are from him. Russian action artist Piotr Pawlensky claims to have distributed the videos. He claims to have obtained the material from confidential sources. Pawlensky is known for very radical actions.
Macron’s former government spokesman
Griveaux had stepped down as Macron’s government spokesman last year to become mayor of Paris. However, LREM was split in the elections in the metropolis: the mathematician Cedric Villani from Macron’s camp is also running – against the will of the President. He had been expelled from the party in January.
His candidacy massively reduced the chances of the official candidate Griveaux. In recent surveys, Griveaux was in third place – behind the socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo and the conservative ex-minister Rachida Dati.
The politician, who came from the socialists, is considered a close confidant of Macron, and was involved in his campaign for the presidential election. To many, however, he appeared to be too pale during the election campaign in Paris. LREM party leader Stanislas Guerini now wanted to check how it would go on. The project should continue.
