The Daily Planet: United Legend Runs For Presidency

Legendary Manchester striker Eric Cantona has revealed that he will be entering the running for the French presidency this month as a publicity stunt. However, the French ex-footballer will need to collect 500 signatures from current officials before he can actually register himself as a competitor.

With current president Nicolas Sarkozy becoming an increasingly hated figure in European politics, it was only a matter of time before politicians began to mount their own challenges for the prestigious French title, but few expected the former United playmaker to be among this year’s candidates.

Cantona, 45, revealed to a national newspaper that his goal in running is to help guide his country through this critical, yet difficult time in their history.

“This engagement obliges me to speak, more earnestly than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country faces difficult choices which will be decisive for its future.”

Unfortunately, it now seems that he was simply joking. He admitted that his participation in the election is nothing more than an attempt to force himself back under the spotlight.

The 500 signatures needed would be enough to propel Cantona ahead into the second round of the elections, though the party-less Frenchman’s future in French politics seems bleak at best. Some have even branded Cantona’s actions as embarrassing to French politics.

In a 2009 speech addressed to an audience of French parliament members, Sarkozy declared, ”You will still have me for seven and a half more years!” But now, many believe the controversial figure will be voted out of power during this year’s elections due to the steep rise in the number of those against him. However, with Eric Cantona running as an individual candidate, his chances of becoming Sarcozy’s successor are slim, though it appears he doesn’t actually care.

The ex-footballer, should he manage to collect the necessary 500 signatures, will be forced to wait until April to see if his bold move paid off as the first round of the elections is set to begin then.