Philippe de Villiers

The move has sparked allegations of favouritism since Philippe de Villiers, a far-right French politician who founded the Puy du Fou, is said to be a friend of President Emmanuel Macron.

The move has sparked allegations of favouritism since Philippe de Villiers, a far-right French politician who founded the Puy du Fou, is said to be a friend of President Emmanuel Macron.

French economy minister Emmanuel Macron on Friday handed veteran far-right politician Philippe de Villiers a public return to legitimacy, paying visit to the latter's money-spinning theme park and praising him as a"cultural entrepreneur". Amid the high-profile visit, the socialist government minister also proclaimed that "I am not socialist". Ahead of an expected bid for the presidency in elections due next May, Macron now regularly stars as the cover story for French weekly Paris-Match, in what appears almost a mirror image of the magazine's coverage dedicated last year to Nicolas Sarkozy. Here, Mediapart editor François Bonnet argues that Macron's political manoeuvring is nothing but an empty vase, and made possible only by the weakness of a used-up government approaching its final bow.

Philippe de Villiers says Russian president Vladimir Putin is only leader fighting for 'non-globalised world that nourishes deep roots'.

Right-wing Philippe de Villiers agrees deal which legal experts say is in open defiance of EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis.