French presidential race: Billionaires seek to shape 2027 election on broad issues

France's 2027 presidential election is seeing an unusual surge in public engagement from billionaires, who are no longer content with discreet influence. These super-rich individuals are stepping into the political arena, not just on economic matters, but also on critical issues like the environment, security, immigration, and public liberties.

Media mogul Vincent Bolloré, 74, a figure associated with the far-right, is a prominent example. However, he is not alone. Other major fortunes are aligning themselves with specific ideological camps, primarily the conservative right and the center, with rare exceptions extending to the left. This direct involvement marks a departure from previous years, where such influence was often exerted more subtly.

Sociologist Pierre François of the CNRS in Paris and historian Matthieu Leimgruber from the University of Zurich observe this phenomenon. They note that while this trend is becoming more visible in France, it is less pronounced in countries like Switzerland. The shift suggests a growing desire among some of the wealthiest to shape the nation's future direction on a wide range of societal issues.

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These billionaires want to influence anthropological issues