Lead
French billionaire Pierre-Edouard Stérin made his first appearance before lawmakers on Thursday, using the public hearing to detail his "meta-political" campaign to bring free-market and conservative ideas to power in France, according to multiple reports. The 52-year-old founder of gift voucher company Smartbox, who lives in Belgium as a self-described tax exile, also used the platform to advocate for changes to French inheritance laws, saying he wants to give his fortune to charity rather than pass it to his five children.
Coverage Comparison
Stérin's appearance before a Senate committee investigating political finance drew coverage from outlets with different emphases. RFI focused on his political agenda, reporting his stated goal to battle "socialism, wokism, Islamism and immigration" and his support for the re-migration of certain migrant groups. The South China Morning Post, meanwhile, led with his personal appeal to alter succession rules, highlighting his wish to disinherit his children and give his estate to philanthropic causes.
Both outlets reported that Stérin appeared via video link, a year after he angered deputies by failing to show up for a previous hearing, citing death threats and security risks.
Key Claims
Stérin told senators that his organisations aim to "spread free-market, conservative ideas as widely as possible," describing the operation as "meta-political." He said, "We hope it will, in the coming months and years, bring free-market, conservative right-wing ideas to power in France," according to RFI.
The businessman, a devout Catholic, confirmed his stance on immigration during the hearing. "I am in favour of the re-migration of foreign criminals, undocumented migrants or those unemployed for more than 12 months," he said, adding that these positions placed him "to the right of the [French right]."
Stérin also addressed his personal wealth. He described himself as a "tax exile of the François Hollande generation" and confirmed his fortune was made through Smartbox, a company that sells gift vouchers.
Regarding inheritance, Stérin told senators, "I would like to give my entire estate to philanthropic causes," noting that under French law, three quarters of his assets would have to pass to his children. "I'm in favour of being able to do whatever one wants to do with one's patrimony," he said.
Perspectives
Stérin's political and philanthropic activities have stirred debate in France. Through his organisation Pericles, he funds several initiatives aimed at advancing his agenda. Internal documents published in French newspaper L'Humanité in 2024, and confirmed by Stérin, described his aims as fighting "socialism, wokism, Islamism, immigration."
His ties to the far-right National Rally were noted by both outlets. Pericles co-founder François Durvye has since joined Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, as a special adviser. Stérin said he is "at the centre of the right" but on immigration he positioned himself as more extreme than the National Rally, whose leaders are leading in polls ahead of next year's presidential election.
The Senate inquiry is investigating whether Stérin's organisations are abiding by regulations. Stérin denied any wrongdoing, saying, "There is no ongoing legal procedure, no investigation, no breach of the law."