Freshly pasted, immediately torn, then shredded into small pieces. In an eastern district of Paris, a new campaign poster has just been vandalized by a young man who targeted an electoral panel. “You are insolent,” says the activist who had just put it up, addressing an interlocutor who seems to ignore the reprimands.
The act is punishable by a fine of up to 750 euros. But these scenes are repeated during every electoral period. As the first round of municipal elections approaches, many candidates denounce these excesses. “Some spend their days tearing down the electoral posters of their political opponents,” lashes out X Thierry Mariani, RN candidate for mayor of Paris. “Since always, my fight has been against anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred. Seeing these despicable inscriptions reminds us that this poison has unfortunately not disappeared,” indignantly states the candidate Reconquête Aurélie Assouline after a swastika, Hitler mustaches, and the word “Nazi” were inscribed on one of her posters in the capital.
Context: The article highlights the vandalism of campaign posters in France, particularly in the lead-up to municipal elections.
Fact Check: The article accurately portrays the tensions and conflicts surrounding the defacement of political campaign materials in various cities in France.
All political camps concerned
The situation is not limited to Paris. In other cities, medium-sized or smaller, campaign teams face the same situation. In Eu, Seine-Maritime, “residents discovered dirty comments tagged on the posters of the five official panels,” laments the team of Robin Devogelaere-Pozzo, right-wing and center candidate. In several cases, list leaders have filed complaints. “Impunity should not be tolerated,” warns Nicolas Lerêle, RN candidate in Mont-de-Marsan.
The phenomenon affects all political camps. “Even this week, right-wing militants tore down posters of Benoît Payan,” confides a close associate of the outgoing mayor of Marseille. This “little war” sometimes includes wild pasting. In the Phocaean city, a controversy erupted after the discovery of posters of the LFI candidate Sébastien Delogu on the hoardings of the future memorial site of the collapses on Rue d’Aubagne. “Do you think this is an appropriate place for politics?” questions Lynda Larbi on social media, addressing the Insoumis.
Context: The article highlights how political tensions manifest through the defacement and destruction of campaign posters across different cities in France.
Fact Check: The article accurately describes the spread of campaign poster vandalism beyond Paris, affecting various political candidates and parties.
“The climate is deteriorating.”
Tensions can even take a different turn. In Reims, RN candidate Anne-Sophie Frigout saw her posters covered with particularly threatening tags. “A line has been crossed in this campaign. The inscription ‘Kill the fascists’ was put on one of my posters, accompanied by stickers from the antifascist movement,” she regrets.
Context: The article underlines the escalation of aggression and threats faced by political candidates in France during their election campaigns.
Fact Check: The article accurately reports instances of threatening graffiti and defacement on campaign posters faced by candidates, reflecting the heightened tension and risks during the election period.
:max_bytes(300000)/frontpop/2026/03/SIPA_00377627_000006.jpeg "The political heritage of General De Gaulle to break out of political impasse and decline")
