Cantona’s long-shot presidential stunt raises housing awareness

FORMER Manchester United striker Eric Cantona fooled the French political establishment into thinking he would run for president, before revealing what he really wanted was better housing for the poor.

The stunt exhibited his trademark unorthodoxy and media savvy, and got France talking about public housing. But the method raised some eyebrows.

French newspaper Liberation released a letter on its website suggesting Cantona wanted to run for president. It was an appeal to mayors around France for 500 signatures of support “in the framework of the political debate that the country is involved in”.