Portrait: Juan Branco, the atypical lawyer with an eventful career
Juan Branco, a young French lawyer with radical positions, is once again being talked about. Recently released under judicial supervision, he is now about to be expelled from Senegal. A look back at the turbulent career of this talented 33-year-old lawyer, who sparked heated controversy in France before getting involved in the case of Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko.
Juan Branco became known to the general public thanks to his essay “Crépuscule”, published in March 2019. This book, a real bestseller with nearly 100,000 copies sold, has also been widely downloaded in free access on the internet. In this book, the lawyer violently criticizes the links he considers corrupt between political, economic and media leaders in France, in particular those associated with Emmanuel Macron and the macronie.
Politically engaged, Juan Branco quickly stood out for his active support of the Yellow Vests movement. His radical positions and his outspokenness have aroused as much admiration as rejection.
Born into a wealthy family – his father is a famous film producer and his mother is a psychoanalyst – Juan Branco benefited from a privileged education. A graduate in international law, he also worked alongside political figures such as Aurélie Filippetti, before embarking on more unexpected projects.
In 2015, he became legal adviser to WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, which allowed him to further increase his media visibility. In 2017, he even ran for the legislative elections in Seine-Saint-Denis under the colors of La France insoumise, before dissociating himself from the party, convinced that the solutions lie outside the traditional political system.
His involvement in Senegal in the defense of the opponent Ousmane Sonko has brought even more light to this exceptional young lawyer. Accused of attack, conspiracy and spreading false news, Juan Branco was arrested and imprisoned in Dakar. His recent release under judicial supervision has drawn international attention as he is now set to be deported to France.
Juan Branco’s career, between political commitment, radical positions and controversies, testifies to a singular personality and an overflowing ambition. Whether one agrees with his ideas or not, it is undeniable that this talented lawyer is attracting interest and playing a key role in current debates.
Despite the criticisms and controversies that surround him, Juan Branco continues to fight to defend his convictions and make his voice heard. The future will tell us what destiny awaits this brilliant lawyer who has become an essential media figure.
Sources:
– Release under judicial supervision of Juan Branco – https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/08/07/l-avocat-juan-branco-libere-sous-controle-judiciaire-au-senegal-after-nearly-two-months-of-detention_6197067_3212.html
– Portrait of Juan Branco – https://www.lexpress