Mantes-la-Jolie's mayor accused of close ties to the extreme right-wing faction
In a significant development, it has been revealed that the Pericles project, a cultural and political initiative spearheaded by billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin, aims to reshape public opinion and electoral outcomes in favour of the extreme right in France.
Stérin, known for his conservative and Islamophobic views, coordinates Pericles as a multi-sector effort. The project's objectives include promoting natalist policies, establishing traditionalist rural schools, sponsoring conservative media outlets, and financing think tanks that advocate for reduced immigration and increased natality.
One such think tank, the Observatoire de l'immigration et de la démographie (OID), has been operating under Pericles' umbrella since 2023. Directed by former centre-right affiliates and linked to figures from intelligence and controversial demography, the OID emphasizes "reclaiming control" over immigration and demographic policy with an anti-immigration agenda.
The Pericles project also includes a training programme named Politicae, which is primarily financed by Stérin. The goal of Politicae is to train and make around 1,000 mayors of small and medium-sized communes win in the 2026 elections. Notable trainers for Politicae include Barthélemy Martin, a former candidate of the LR-RN alliance, and Philippe de Gestas, a supporter of Eric Zemmour.
Journalists from Boulevard Voltaire, a media supported by the RN, are also involved in Politicae. The collaboration aims to train future mayors for the 2026 elections, with examples of trainees including Eric Ciotti and Jordan Bardella.
However, the involvement of Horizons, a party that is part of the "central bloc", in Politicae has raised concerns. Despite these concerns, Horizons' leader has stated that the meeting was organised due to a lack of prior acquaintance. Raphaël Cognet, a Horizons mayor, is assured of receiving the party's endorsement for 2026, despite being associated with Politicae.
Cognet's institute, Politicae, is installed within Pierre-Édouard Stérin's company premises. An investigation published on August 6 by Mediapart revealed a collaboration between Cognet and Antoine Valentin, the Ciotti mayor of Saint-Jeoire.
Despite these revelations, Horizons prefers to disregard concerns raised by local members, stating that the professional activities of elected officials do not concern them. However, the mayor of Le Havre has publicly stated that despite a cordial dinner, they found deep disagreements on many subjects.
It is important to note that Politicae is associated with an ally of the RN, a French far-right political party. The trainers of Politicae are primarily from the reactionary right or the extreme right.
In July 2024, a dinner between former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and Marine Le Pen was revealed, sparking questions about potential ties between Pericles and mainstream political figures.
As the Pericles project continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact the political landscape of France in the coming years.
[1] Mediapart, "Pericles, le projet de Pierre-Édouard Stérin pour faire gagner la droite extrême en France", August 6, 2025. [2] Mediapart, "Le réseau Pericles, une initiative culturelle et politique pour faire gagner la droite extrême en France", August 6, 2025. [3] Le Monde, "Les mayeurs Horizons et RN dans le même institut de formation politique", August 7, 2025. [4] Libération, "Le réseau Pericles, le projet de Pierre-Édouard Stérin pour faire gagner la droite extrême en France", August 6, 2025.
- The Pericles project, funded by billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin, is a multifaceted initiative involving policy-and-legislation, politics, and general news, as it encompasses natalist policies, traditionalist rural schools, conservative media outlets, think tanks advocating for reduced immigration and increased natality, and a training program named Politicae to elect mayors.
- The general news outlet Mediapart revealed that the Observatoire de l'immigration et de la démographie (OID), a think tank under Pericles, emphasizes a policy-and-legislation agenda centered on anti-immigration policies, while Politicae, another component of Pericles, has raised concerns about its connections to the mainstream political figures due to its association with the far-right RN party.
