In view of his legal setbacks, Patrick Balkany preferred to stay away from the media for some time. The former mayor of Levallois-Perret was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for tax fraud in 2019, then he was incarcerated and placed on an electronic bracelet for health concerns, before returning once again behind bars in Fleury-Mérogis prison, from which he was released in August 2022. After this resounding affair, the 75-year-old politician made a return to the forefront, to say the least unexpected, this Sunday, March 3: he agreed to appear as a guest star in the song’s music video It’s not for tomorrow by Arno Santamaria, revealed in 2014 in the show Rising Star.
Patrick Balkany appears in the middle of the video in a long coat, hat and cane in hand, with “looks like a mafia godfather”, as noted South West. He interrupts the song to act as arbiter between good and evil, both represented by two versions of Arno Santamaria. “So, you’re not going to fight! Do you think life is black or white? Well, think again: life is black and white”says the ex-MP before turning on his heels all smiles, wishing a “Have a good day” to the angel and the devil.
“Arno called me and I came for free. He just offered me a magnum of champagne,” explained the husband of Isabelle Balkany in the columns of Parisian, taken up by BFMTV. And to add: “His song is very cool, too. I’m very cool. And the filming was very nice, in a former brothel in Argenteuil.” For his part, Arno Stantamaria, known for his titles Stand up (I feel good) And Paris my dearjustified his choice to ask Patrick Balkany to appear in his clip: “I wanted a strong character to referee the fight between good and evil. I thought of Patrick because there aren’t many like that anymore. He is divisive but he has a background, a charisma and an energy.”
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Patrick Balkany ready to return to politics?
Should we see in this unexpected appearance a desire to return to the path of politics? Nothing is less certain, since Balkany was also sentenced to 10 years of ineligibility in the case which sent him to prison… During his exchange with Le Parisien, the former general councilor of Hauts-de -Seine also confided that he was not about to return to politics, even if he was not far from it: “I am preparing the next municipal elections, I am putting together a list to fire those who are there. Rest assured, I am not going to start a political career again, I have been sentenced to ten years of ineligibility.” We will therefore have to be content with his musical contributions.
Photo credits: BALDINI / BESTIMAGE