Turbulent France: Macron's mayor of Paris has retired because of a sex video

Former government spokesman Dominic Gribo retired after a Russian artist posted his mini-video. He gained the support of politicians from all corners of the political spectrum, who warned of a violation of democracy, leaving the French president without a candidate for next month's election. "I wanted to reveal hypocrisy," the artist said

France's ally Emmanuel Macron resigned Friday from the mayor's race after his sex videos leaked to the network. The embarrassing videos of former government spokesman Dominic Gribo were posted by Peter Pavlanski, a Russian artist who sought refuge after fleeing his country in 2017.

The leak was condemned on all sides of the political spectrum. Many in France continue to see the lives of public servants outside the field. Politicians, including Garibo's rivals, were quick to support him and warned that people would not want to run for public office for fear that their private affairs would be revealed to everyone. They warned that leaking the sexual material to get Garibo out of the race was a threat to France's democratic tradition.

"We are not seeking to elect saints," said Sebastian Shano, spokesman for the far-right "National Union" party. The party is one of the main rivals of Macron's political center movement.

Griebo was also backed by the extreme left, with former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melanchon saying he had fallen victim to the elimination of accounts and that French public life should not be used for voyeurism. "Posting intimate photos to destroy a political opponent is a repulsive thing," he wrote on Twitter.

Cedric Villani, a member of parliament who split from the Garibu Party to face him in a Paris race, said he had fallen victim to the attack "which poses a serious threat to our democracy."

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Claims to have been victimized. Gribu, today (Photo: Reuters)

Dominique Grievo, French presidential candidate for Paris mayor announces retirement from race, February 14, 2020 (Photo: AP)

Grybo's departure from the race left Macron's party unopposed in the mayor's election next month. Grim, Grievo announced his retirement this morning, saying he was a victim of "vicious attacks" on the Internet and social networks.

Pavlanski, the Russian artist who posted the video, is known for provocations in his homeland, such as nailing his testicles to Moscow's Red Square. He said he called the Liberation newspaper Thursday night, and said he obtained the tape from a source who was in a relationship with Garibo. According to the paper, he wants to reveal the "hypocrisy" of the candidate.

"He is someone who always talks about family values, who says he wants to be the mayor of families and always mentions his wife and children. But he did the opposite," the Russian artist said.

The mayor of Paris is the most coveted in the country's local elections, and has previously served as a bouncer for politicians seeking a more level office, such as former President Jacques Chirac.