Cantona Vs. Okasha

Just when we were growing tired of Tawfik Okasha’s comedic musings, former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona dropped a bombshell on the French political scene when he announced he was running for presidency — just in time to replace Okasha as the most entertaining presidential hopeful of the year.

Forty-five-year old Cantona, who has also ventured into the acting world,  announced this week that he woud run in the upcoming French presidential elections. By the end of February, he needs to have gathered 500 signatures endorsing his candidacy. (He did score 64 goals during the 144 games he played for Manchester United, so anything could happen.)Although our Okasha was a less-than-credible television presenter turned presidential hopeful, and then failed parliamentary candidate while Cantona was a world-renowned football player, they both do present quite a show. Okasha’s conspiracy theories, not to mention his claims of a Massonic celebration by the pyramid unveiling some super-natural powers, have kept us all entertained during the past hard times. We don't know if Cantona will be as entertaining, but it sure will be fun watching the tribulations of a football player gone political, although admittedly, he might have more sense in him than Okasha does. Sure, Cantona might not be politically active, economically savvy or fully aware of French legislature, but he already has the popularity any candidate could ever hope for. Who else has more publicity than a football player? Cantona’s political agenda is focused on giving more opportunities to the youth. He has described social injustices faced by French youngsters as “too numerous, too violent and too systematic,” — did I mention that Cantona has been living the life of a rich-and-famous footballer since his twenties? So if Okasha's bragging about his red lips and his ancestors’ grass-colored eyes isn't doing it for you anymore, tune in to Cantona, the new entertainer on the political scene. At least Cantona knows how to work up a crowd, not to mention has a better sense of fashion than our Okasha. We aren’t sure he can compete in the comedy department though, after all, Okasha is a natural.