Today is the first round of France's two-stage election. As is true in any democracy, election time is rife with comedians poking fun at the candidates. Yet twenty seven years ago, one such comedian actually launched a presidential bid. Michel Gérard Joseph Colucci, who was mononymously known as 'Coluche', announced in 1980 that he would run for president, further branding himself as "the only candidate who has no reason to lie". Coluche was raised in Paris to a single mother, and had difficulty holding jobs. He finally found his niche in comedy, and helped establish Café de la Gare - a small comedy club. Many of the club's founders went on to become famous, but Coluche even more so, eventually establishing himself one of France's best known comedians. His loose and often vulgar style was derided by some and lauded by others. Although he didn't become President, Coluche left his mark on France. He established a charity known as Restaurants du Coeur aimed at feeding and caring for low-income families and the homeless. Sadly he never lived to see his charity expand across France and internationally: four months after inaugurating the first restaurant Coluche was killed in a motorcycle accident.
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