France's strange-but-true parliamentary candidates

French voters say this year's parliamentary election campaign has thus far been bland, so FRANCE 24 takes a look at the oddball candidates trying to spice up the race.

By Joseph BAMAT / Yann BUXEDA (text)

"Let your rebellious side out to vote," says David Fabrice, a parliamentary candidate in the Val d'Oise region north of Paris. The self-branded "new ecologist" may inspire Avatar fanatics, but how many will board the starship all the way from Pandora to cast a ballot?

She was forced to drop her candidacy in last month's presidential election, but Paris stripper Cindy'Lee has not been deflated. She is now a parliamentary hopeful in a constituency of the French capital.

Céline Bara, a professional pornography actress from the southwest Ariège department, proposes a full-frontal election programme: antitheism, communism, libertarianism and...pornocracy.

Alessandro di Giuseppe of the "Church of Blessed Consumerism" is the race's most gaudy parliamentary candidate. His campaign poster is divinely inspired: it is a direct spoof on former president Nicolas Sarkozy's re-election broadside.

"All aboard!" Convinced there was not enough swashbuckling in the legislative poll, Kevin Cornet of the Pirate Party has set sail in the Val-de-Marne, southeast of Paris. But where's the parrot?

Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë is not laughing. Artist Gaspard Delanoë is telling voters "two Delanoës are better than one", while also insisting that he is the "fresher" of the two. The mayor's namesake is even calling for the secession of the city's fifth constituency.

Philippe Gautry, candidate in the Yvelines department near Paris, takes a gamble by superimposing his poker face on the film poster of "Casino Royal". Jumping into the Seine river during the 2011 cantonal elections only got this James Bond poser soggy socks.

Almamy Kanouté plays the cliché card: "Rapper? Hoodlum? Illegal immigrant? Terrorist? Drug dealer? Sports star?" No, the clothes don't make the MP, Kanoute argues. So what does?

"I'm not promising the moon," says Pierre Guiraud, a lunatic comedian from southern France known for wearing cow udders. But despite his affinity for animals, there is little chance he will join the political circus.

Ferret out the winner of the award for the candidate with the creepiest campaign poster. Which of the two mugs belongs to "independent ecologist" Gregory Berthault?