French Court Upholds Patrick Balkany's 10-Year Political Ban

The former Levallois mayor's appeal to lift his ineligibility, tied to convictions for tax fraud and money laundering, has been rejected.

Patrick Balkany, 76, sought to overturn his 10-year ineligibility to run for office, imposed as part of a 2019 sentence for tax fraud and money laundering.
The Paris correctional court rejected his request, citing the severity of his offenses and the significant unpaid tax debt he still owes.
Balkany and his wife were found guilty of hiding €13 million in assets, including luxury villas in the Caribbean and Morocco, from tax authorities between 2007 and 2014.
He has already served time in prison and under electronic monitoring but remains barred from public office until 2029 unless his appeal succeeds.
Balkany has criticized the ineligibility ruling as undemocratic, arguing that voters should have the right to decide if he can return to politics.