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{{short description|French-Spanish lawyer, writer, journalist and political activist}} {{short description|French-Spanish political activist, writer and lawyer}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Juan Branco | name = Juan Branco
| image =2019 - Centre Stage - Day 2 VJR21625 (49024215596).jpg
| honorific_suffix =
| image_size =
| image = 2019 - Centre Stage - Day 2 VJR21625 (49024215596).jpg
| image_size = | caption =Juan Branco in 2019
| caption = Branco in 2019 | birth_date = 1989
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1989}}
| birth_place = ], ],<br />Spain | birth_place = ], ],<br />Spain
| nationality = French, Spanish | nationality = French, Spanish
| education = ] (]) | education = ]
| occupation = Lawyer
]
]
]
]
| occupation = ], ], ]
| employer = ] (2010-2011)
] (2012-2013)<br />
] (2013-2014)<br />
] (2015-2016)<br />
] (2015-2016)<br />
] (2015-2019)
Independant ] (since 2017)
| notable_works = ]
| party = ] (2008-2009)
] (2012)<br />
] (2014)<br />
] (2017-2018)
| movement = ] (2013-2014)<br />
] (since 2018)
| father = ] | father = ]
| mother = Dolores López
}} }}


'''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}), full name '''Juan''' '''Paulo''' '''Branco Lopez,''' born on 26 August 1989 in ], is a French-Spanish ], writer, journalist and ]. '''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer.


He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book ''Crépuscule'', critical of French President ], and in early 2020, with his involvement in the ]. He has been a supporter of the ].
As a student at ], he stood out by opposing the ], and became involved in politics, first with ], and then within the ]'s cultural centre during ]'s ]. He was sacked the day after the election, when the party reversed its position on Hadopi. A ] since 2014, he became ]' and ]'s legal advisor in France, after working as a researcher at ], the ] and ]. In 2017, he became a lawyer and defended ], before running unsuccessfully in the ] in ] with the support of ]. He then distanced himself from the party.


== Early life and education ==
Part of the ] since 2018, he defended figures from the movement ], including ] and ], and won cases against President ]. During the protests, he also published '']'', a bestseller criticising the latter's rise to power and his links with French billionaires who ]. In June 2019, he filed at the ], a 250-page communication on European ], accusing ] leaders of ] over the ], and also made several revelations during the ] in 2020 and 2021.
Branco was born in 1989 in ], near Málaga. He is the son of film producer ].{{cn|date=December 2022}}


He went to the ], an elite private high school in Paris.<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html|title = Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie|date = 11 February 2019}}</ref> He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the ] neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like ].<ref name="lefigaro.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/juan-branco-itineraire-d-un-enfant-gate-devenu-activiste-sans-scrupule-20200218|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule|date=18 February 2020}}</ref>
Involved in several cases concerning ] since 2021, denouncing the "creeping financialisation" of football, he represented ], became ]'s lawyer against ] and ], and defended Tayeb Benabderrahmane against ] in the PSG spying affair. The author of 13 books, he defended victims of the ] in 2022 and, after completing the trilogy begun with ''Crépuscule'' by publishing ''Coup d'état,'' he became the lawyer of the ] opposition leader ] in 2023, and filed another 168-page communication at the ICC in June, accusing President ] of "crimes against humanity" over the deadly ].


He studied as undergraduate at ] and as graduate and PhD student at the ], where he was admitted without passing the entrance exam.<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/>
== Origins and private life ==
Born in Spain in 1989, in the municipality of ], ], Juan Branco is the son of Portuguese film producer ] and Spanish psychoanalyst Dolores López. He grew up in Andalusia and then in Paris, between the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2018 |title=Juan Branco désosse Macron {{!}} Entretiens |url=https://la-bas.org/la-bas-magazine/entretiens/Juan-Branco-desosse-Macron |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Là-bas si j'y suis |language=fr}}</ref> He has two sisters and a brother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santucci |first=Françoise-Marie |title=Le joueur des chèques. |url=https://www.liberation.fr/portrait/1999/05/13/le-joueur-des-cheques_272787/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> He was naturalized French in 2010.<ref name=":52">Endeweld 2013</ref>


In 2013, he assisted to a horse race in the desert at the invite of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.<ref name="lexpress.fr"/>
He lived a "golden childhood" in the ] neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted with celebrities like ] and ].<ref name="lefigaro.fr2">{{Cite web |date=18 February 2020 |title=Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/juan-branco-itineraire-d-un-enfant-gate-devenu-activiste-sans-scrupule-20200218 |access-date=2020-03-08 |language=fr}}</ref>


He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|title = Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 7 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php|title = Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain|date = 10 June 2021}}</ref>
In 2018 and 2019, he received welfare assistance ('']'') after having defended yellow vest protestors ].<ref name="ReferenceA2">{{Cite web |date=17 February 2020 |title=Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/affaire-griveaux-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-juan-branco-20200217}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB2">{{Cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{Summarize section|date=July 2023}}
=== Ecole alsacienne ===
After an education spent in public schools,<ref name=":62">Mariel Primois Bizot, Au Diable Vauvert, October 3, 2019, ISBN &nbsp;979-10-307-0304-7, p. 128</ref> Branco studied at the ], a private establishment in the 6th arrondissement. In his own words, "one can reproduce and socialize there without fear of being contaminated by bad company". He also claimed to have "great contempt for the conformism of all these heirs".<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-05-07 |title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ? |language=french |website=Franceinfo |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html |url-status=live |access-date=2020-06-30 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> He used ]s to comment on the physique of his comrades; his comrade ] complained of his actions to the management of the establishment.<ref name="lexpress.fr22">{{Cite web |date=11 February 2019 |title=Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html}}</ref>

=== Masters at Sciences Po, Paris 1, ENS, and Paris IV ===
In 2007, he joined ] (IEP) where he relaunched the film club and was noticed by the director of the establishment, ], who entrusted him with the mission of taking photos to feed his ] account.<ref name=":02" /> Years after he was asked by his widow to deliver a eulogy on behalf of the school's students at his funeral, he said, "All the flattery was instrumental, aimed at absorbing me to make me serve the system".<ref name=":02" />

During his studies at the IEP, he obtained a ] in philosophy and law co-accredited by the ] in 2009,<ref name="ReferenceA2" /><ref name=":110">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco {{!}} Yale University - Academia.edu |url=https://yale-academia-edu.translate.goog/JuanBranco/CurriculumVitae?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=yale-academia-edu.translate.goog}}</ref> following which he was admitted to the literature and languages department of the ]&nbsp;(ENS Ulm) the same year,<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=L'annuaire {{!}} a-Ulm |url=https://www-archicubes-ens-fr.translate.goog/lannuaire?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www-archicubes-ens-fr.translate.goog}}</ref> and finished his bachelor's degree from the IEP the following year.<ref name=":110" />

He obtained an M1 in modern literature in 2011, followed by an M2 in political philosophy and a Masters in public affairs in 2012, accredited by the ] and the IEP of Paris respectively.<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=MERCIER |first=Clémentine |date=2016-04-10 |title=À 26 ans, Juan Branco conseille les plus grands |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/societe/justice/26-ans-juan-branco-conseille-les-plus-grands-4155418 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Ouest-France.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":26"></ref> The following year, he obtained an M2 in geopolitics co-accredited by the ENS Ulm and the University of Paris 1, and became an ] of the ENS.<ref name="ReferenceA2" /><ref name=":110" />

In 2019, '']'' reported that he mentioned on his ] "in charge of a seminar at the École Normale Supérieure", which he was not. Branco replied to the weekly, "It changes absolutely nothing in the facts, whether it is organized by a student or not."<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /><ref name=":02" />

=== Doctor of law ===
Under the guidance of legal historian ], he began a doctorate in international law and legal philosophy. His thesis, defended at the ENS Ulm eight months later, gave him the title of ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-16 |title=Max Planck Institute Luxembourg: Juan Branco |url=http://www.mpi.lu:80/the-institute/senior-research-fellows/juan-branco/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516184101/http://www.mpi.lu:80/the-institute/senior-research-fellows/juan-branco/ |archive-date=2016-05-16 |access-date=2023-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |title=De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global : un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale |url=https://www.theses.fr/2014ENSU0004 |publisher=Paris, Ecole normale supérieure |date=2014-11-26 |degree=These de doctorat |first=Juan |last=Branco}}</ref> His work on the ] was rewarded in 2015 with one of the thesis prizes from the Varenne University Institute — which became the Louis-Joinet Prize — in the “international criminal justice” category.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=Lauréats 2015 {{!}} Prix Joinet - IFJD |url=https://prix-joinet.ifjd.org/laureats-2015-prix-joinet/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

This doctorate obtained in eight months allowed him to join a regional training center for the profession of lawyer (CRFPA).<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2021 |title=Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php}}</ref>

== Early professional career ==
=== Researcher at Yale, Max Planck and La Sapienza (2013-2016) ===
After having worked with the ] for a year,<ref name=":32">{{Cite magazine |date=25 September 2019 |title=Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ? |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco |url-status=dead |magazine=] |language=FR |edition=French |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021044523/https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco |archive-date=2021-10-21}}</ref> and as an external collaborator at the ] for another year,<ref name=":02" /> ha was employed in the French department of ] between 2013 and 2014, and became a visiting scholar at ],<ref name=":26" /> where he collaborated with the '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Law Journal |url=https://www.yjil.org/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=International Law Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2015, he was recruited as a visiting scholar at ],<ref name=":32" /> and as a Senior Research Fellow at the ] Luxembourg for Procedural Law.<ref></ref> He earned eight thousand euros in salary there and specified on this subject: “I did not know what to do with it. It was a bit unsettling”.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":32" />

=== Legal advisor of Wikileaks and Julian Assange (2015-2019) ===
Branco was passionate about the causes of other activists, such as the American ] ].<ref name=":0" /> For a while, he tried to join the team defending the man who revealed the ] by the ].<ref name=":0" />

However, he met Julian Assange in 2015, probably through "a close friend" of Assange's,<ref name=":0" /> and after collaborating with the organisation as a volunteer for a few months, he joined the defence team of ] and ] under the direction of ].<ref name=":02" /><ref name="dailymotion.com">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-27 |title=Juan Branco, l'homme dans l'ombre de Julien Assange - Le Supplément du 27/03 - CANAL+ - Vidéo Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40adfd |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}</ref> As a legal adviser, he then represented the organization publicly, notably during the ] in 2015, relating to the presidents of the French Republic as well as to its large companies.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Alissa J. |last2=Shane |first2=Scott |date=2015-06-24 |title=Hollande Condemns Spying by U.S., but Not Too Harshly |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/world/europe/wikileaks-us-spying-france.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He participated in diplomatic negotiations to obtain the right of asylum for Assange, which the ] ultimately refused.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guiton |first=Amaelle |title=Hollande ne veut pas accueillir Assange |url=https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2015/07/03/hollande-ne-veut-pas-accueillir-assange_1342691/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Citation |title=Retour sur nos enquêtes : FranceLeaks et Wikileaks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUjGqixYKlU |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en}}</ref>

Described by '']'' as "the man in the shadows" of Assange,<ref name="dailymotion.com" /><ref name=":172" /> responsible in particular for procedures with the ] and relations with certain States,<ref name=":42" /> he described on numerous occasions the risks inherent in working with WikiLeaks,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mediapart |first=Les invités de |title=L'inévitable radicalisation de WikiLeaks et les graves défaillances de notre société informationnelle |url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/edition/les-invites-de-mediapart/article/020916/l-inevitable-radicalisation-de-wikileaks-et-les-graves-defaillances-de-notr |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Mediapart |language=fr}}</ref> particularly in contact with ], and defined the organization as a "World Library of Power Devices".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilpeläinen |first=Minna |date=2017-08-08 |title=WikiLeaks is a Sieve |url=https://medium.com/@minnaliik/wikileaks-is-a-sieve-3beda99e557d |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>

Until Assange was arrested in April 2019 and placed in solitary confinement in London's ], Branco regularly visited him at the ], where he had taken refuge in 2012.<ref name=":0" /> He also helped set up a ] group, ''Assange, l'Ultime Combat'' (Assange, the Ultimate Fight), which organised bus trips between Paris and London in support of the Australian, and took part in two of them.<ref name=":0" />

In 2019, the French independent newspaper ] revealed that Branco had indeed been spied on by the ] during his visits to Julian Assange at the ] in ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hourdeaux |first=Jérôme |title=Les Etats-Unis ont espionné Julian Assange et ses visiteurs à Londres |url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/211119/les-etats-unis-ont-espionne-julian-assange-et-ses-visiteurs-londres |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Mediapart |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Eschapasse |first=Baudouin |date=2020-03-09 |title=Ce que Juan Branco dit de Julian Assange |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/livres/ce-que-juan-branco-dit-de-julian-assange-09-03-2020-2366377_37.php |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>

== Lawyer career ==
{{Summarize section|date=July 2023}}
=== First clients ===
Branco passed the bar in April 2017 and became a lawyer. He notably defended ] during the so-called "]" affair,<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2018 |title=Menaces de l'ultra-droite : Mélenchon demande que Collomb soit entendu par la justice |url=https://www.europe1.fr/politique/menaces-de-lultra-droite-melenchon-demande-que-collomb-soit-entendu-par-la-justice-3617996 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref> a far-right terrorist group planning attacks on politicians and mosques;<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2017 |title=Qui est Logan N., le cerveau présumé du projet d'attentat déjoué contre des politiques et des mosquées ? |url=https://www.europe1.fr/societe/qui-est-logan-n-le-cerveau-presume-du-projet-dattentat-dejoue-contre-des-politiques-et-des-mosquees-3468074 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref> as well as his father against ] and the ] in '']'' case, where he prevailed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 June 2018 |title="L'Homme qui tua Don Quichotte" : la justice donne raison à Paulo Branco |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Culture/Cinema/L-Homme-qui-tua-Don-Quichotte-la-justice-donne-raison-a-Paulo-Branco-1540328 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=parismatch.com |language=fr}}</ref>

=== MINUSCA legal expert ===
In May 2018, he was recruited by the ] in the ] as an independent expert,<ref>{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2018-05-31 |title=Centrafrique : la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes |url=https://fr.africanews.com/2018/05/31/centrafrique-la-minusca-expulse-un-expert-francais-qui-l-accuse-de-crimes/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Africanews |language=fr}}</ref> and was responsible with two others for developing the prosecution strategy of the Central African Special Criminal Court against ] in the country.<ref name="Endeweld">{{Cite web |last=Endeweld |first=Marc |date=2018-05-29 |title=Un expert indépendant expulsé de Centrafrique par l'ONU |url=https://www.marianne.net/monde/un-expert-independant-expulse-de-centrafrique-par-l-onu |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref>

On 25 May, he publicly accused on Twitter, the ] (MINUSCA) forces of committing a massacre in ],<ref name="Endeweld" /> and said they could be investigated by the Criminal Court.<ref name=":2" /> Less than a week later, he was expelled from the country by the MINUSCA, which said his tweets "may adversely affect the interests of the United Nations” and were therefore in breach of his contract.<ref name=":2" /> According to some sources, the decision was taken at UN headquarters.<ref name="Endeweld" /> Branco denied that his actions ran contrary to the interests of the United Nations, writing that “denouncing crimes is a requirement for anyone, and in particular for those in charge of fighting them,”.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2018-05-31 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un-idUSKCN1IW265 |access-date=2023-05-07}}</ref>

=== Yellow vest protestors ===
During the ], he became the ] lawyer for protest figures,<ref name=":0" /> such as ],<ref name=":82">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=" Gilets jaunes » : Didier Lallement visé par une seconde information judiciaire pour « détention arbitraire " |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/justice/20220922.OBS63510/gilets-jaunes-didier-lallement-vise-par-une-seconde-information-judiciaire-pour-detention-arbitraire.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=L'Obs |language=fr}}</ref> ],<ref name=":92">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=L'avocat Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol et placé sous contrôle judiciaire |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/harcelement-sexuel/l-avocat-juan-branco-mis-en-examen-pour-viol-et-place-sous-controle-judiciaire_4857119.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Stéphane Espic<ref name=":102">{{Cite web |last=Leboucq |first=Fabien |title=Brigitte Macron a-t-elle perdu un procès en diffamation contre un gilet jaune ? |url=https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2020/10/04/brigitte-macron-a-t-elle-perdu-un-proces-en-diffamation-contre-un-gilet-jaune_1801326/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> and Carole Pigaiani.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=AFP |date=2023-06-16 |title=Caricature de Macron et du préfet de police: deux "gilets jaunes" comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.lalibre.be/international/europe/2021/11/21/caricature-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage-Z4RMXE2NYFCIROYYJ5DPMFCSWM/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref> After the protests, he continued to defend former protesters in court against Emmanuel Macron, such as Valérie Minet<ref name=":10" /> and Damien Tarel.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=L'auteur de la gifle à Emmanuel Macron conteste une partie de sa peine |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/4003024-20220929-grenoble-auteur-gifle-emmanuel-macron-conteste-partie-peine |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

==== Maxime Nicolle ====
In particular, he intervened when ] was arrested on the ] on 14 July 2019 during the ] and regularly gave him legal advice.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-29 |title=Des "gilets jaunes" à Piotr Pavlenski, en passant par l'intelligentsia parisienne... La galaxie éclectique de Juan Branco |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/russie/piotr-pavlenski/des-gilets-jaunes-a-piotr-pavlenski-en-passant-par-l-intelligentsia-parisienne-la-galaxie-eclectique-de-juan-branco_3835667.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> He denounced an "arbitrary detention" and initiated legal proceedings to find out who had given the order.<ref name=":82" /> In September 2022, an investigation was opened against former police chief Didier Lallement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Deuxième enquête contre l'ex-préfet de police Didier Lallement |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/paris/4001985-20220922-gilets-jaunes-deuxieme-enquete-contre-ex-prefet-police-didier-lallement |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

==== Christophe Dettinger ====
He also defended the French professional boxer ], who was convicted of punching back two mobile gendarmes after clashes in ] as part of the Yellow Vest protests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-07 |title=Manifestation des "gilets jaunes" samedi : le "boxeur" de la passerelle s'est rendu |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/manifestation-des-gilets-jaunes-samedi-le-boxeur-de-la-passerelle-s-est-rendu-6424224 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=France Inter |language=fr}}</ref> On 13 February 2019, Dettinger was sentenced to one year in prison and 18 months' probation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24 |date=2019-02-13 |title=Gilets jaunes : le boxeur de gendarmes Christophe Dettinger condamné à un an de prison ferme |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20190213-france-justice-gilets-jaunes-boxeur-christophe-dettinger-condamnation-prison |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=France 24 |language=fr}}</ref> Branco tried to recover the money, €145 000, from a fundraising campaign set up to support the boxer,&nbsp;which was closed by the hosting website after less than 20 hours due to the outrage expressed by the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pourquoi Christophe Dettinger, qui avait boxé des gendarmes, ne verra jamais la couleur de sa cagnotte |url=https://rmc.bfmtv.com/actualites/police-justice/pourquoi-christophe-dettinger-qui-avait-boxe-des-gendarmes-ne-verra-jamais-la-couleur-de-sa-cagnotte_AN-202101070559.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=RMC |language=fr}}</ref> In 2021, the fund was cancelled by the court, and he appelead.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-01-07 |title=Gilets jaunes : la justice s'oppose au versement de la cagnotte de Christophe Dettinger |language=fr-FR |work=La Croix |url=https://www.la-croix.com/France/Gilets-jaunes-justice-soppose-versement-cagnotte-Christophe-Dettinger-2021-01-07-1201133657 |access-date=2023-05-24 |issn=0242-6056}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=magazine |first=Le Point |date=2021-01-06 |title=La cagnotte Leetchi de l'ex-boxeur Gilet jaune Dettinger annulée par la justice |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/la-cagnotte-leetchi-de-l-ex-boxeur-gilet-jaune-dettinger-annulee-par-la-justice-06-01-2021-2408537_2386.php |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>

==== Stephane Espic ====
In 2020, he defended Stéphane Espic against Emmanuel and ].<ref name=":102" /> On 8 August, while the presidential couple were on holiday at the ], yellow vests gathered on the nearby beach, launched several inflatable lobsters and climbed on them to demonstrate in front of the fort's beach - a reference to the controversy surrounding former minister ], who resigned after photos of him eating lobster on public funds were published.<ref name=":102" /> Convinced that she had been insulted, the first lady filed a complaint.<ref name=":102" /> Branco had the case dismissed on 30 September on a technicality.<ref name=":102" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-30 |title=Le tribunal de Toulon annule une procédure visant un Gilet jaune pour "injures" envers Brigitte et Emmanuel Macron |url=https://www.varmatin.com/justice/le-tribunal-de-toulon-annule-une-procedure-visant-un-gilet-jaune-pour-injures-envers-brigitte-et-emmanuel-macron-580677 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Var-Matin |language=fr}}</ref>

==== Carole Pigaiani ====
In 2021, he defended two yellow vest protesters accused of "contempt of a public authority" for a caricature of French President Emmanuel Macron, police prefect Didier Lallement and US President ].<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caricature de Macron et du préfet de police: deux "gilets jaunes" comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/caricature-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage_AD-202111210194.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=BFMTV |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caricature sexuelle de Macron et du préfet de police : deux gilets jaunes comparaîtront pour outrage |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/caricature-sexuelle-de-macron-et-du-prefet-de-police-deux-gilets-jaunes-comparaitront-pour-outrage-20211122_GWKUIONG4RDWHHNWZELKLYNKLQ/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> Branco argued that the caricature was "part of the free exercise of satire and freedom of expression".<ref name=":7" /> The two yellow vests were acquitted by the Paris Correctional Court on 26 May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Deux « gilets jaunes » relaxés pour leur caricature sexuelle de Macron |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/3297655-20220527-deux-gilets-jaunes-relaxes-caricature-sexuelle-macron-prefet-paris |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

==== Damien Tarel ====
He also represented on appeal Damien Tarel, condemned for smacking ], defending "a purgatory gesture which relieved many French people".<ref>{{cite web |date=2 November 2022 |title="Un geste purgatoire qui portait la parole de beaucoup de Français", le gifleur d'Emmanuel Macron voit sa peine confirmée en appel |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/drome/un-geste-purgatoire-qui-portait-la-parole-de-beaucoup-de-francais-le-gifleur-d-emmanuel-macron-voit-sa-peine-confirmee-en-appel-2647116.html |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |language=fr-FR}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> On 2 November 2022, Damien Tarel was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, four of which were suspended. He was also permanently banned from public employment, and deprived of his ] (including the right to vote) for a period of three years.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=à 18h05 |first1=Par Le Parisien Le 2 novembre 2022 |last2=À 07h35 |first2=Modifié Le 3 Novembre 2022 |date=2022-11-02 |title=Emmanuel Macron giflé : la peine contre Damien Tarel confirmée en appel |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/emmanuel-macron-gifle-la-peine-contre-damien-tarel-confirmee-en-appel-02-11-2022-2A7SYYQH3FHARJSBTJZYGSAGMU.php |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==== Valérie Minet ====
In 2023, he defended Valérie Minet, who is being prosecuted for calling ] a "scumbag" on ]. She was arrested and held in police custody for nine hours, and was then referred to the Magistrates' Court on a charge of insulting a public official. She faces a fine of 12,000 euros. Branco described the prosecution as an attempt at "intimidation". According to another lawyer contacted by ], these proceedings - and in particular the nine hours in police custody - were indeed unjustified.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title="C'est une volonté d'intimidation" : Juan Branco désigné avocat de Valérie M, poursuivie pour avoir insulté Emmanuel Macron sur Facebook |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/pas-calais/saint-omer/c-est-une-volonte-d-intimidation-juan-branco-designe-avocat-de-valerie-m-poursuivie-pour-avoir-insulte-emmanuel-macron-sur-facebook-2745030.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=France 3 Hauts-de-France |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=L'Audomaroise qui a qualifié Macron d'« ordure » sera défendue par l'ancien avocat de Mélenchon |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1313068/article/2023-04-06/l-audomaroise-qui-qualifie-macron-d-orduresera-defendue-par-l-ancien-avocat-de |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=La Voix du Nord |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Une française traite Macron d'ordure : Me Juan Branco désigné pour sa défense - Senegal7 |url=https://senegal7.com/une-francaise-traite-macron-dordure-me-juan-branco-designe-pour-sa-defense/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

=== Report accusing EU of crimes against humanity ===
In June 2019, he filed at the ], jointly with Omer Shatz, a 250-page communication on European migration policy, accusing the leaders of the ] of ] over the deaths of thousands of migrants who have perished in the ] while trying to flee ] between 2014 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=Décès de migrants en Méditerranée: des avocats veulent traduire l'UE en justice |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/deces-de-migrants-en-mediterranee-des-avocats-veulent-traduire-l-ue-en-justice-20190603 |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Oltermann |first1=Philip |last2=Giuffrida |first2=Angela |date=2022-11-30 |title=European politicians accused of conspiring with Libyan coastguard to push back refugees |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/30/european-politicians-accused-of-conspiring-with-libyan-coastguard-to-push-back-refugees |access-date=2023-05-19 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":172">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco, der Anwalt für Assange, die Gelbwesten und Flüchtlinge |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000104349831/juan-branco-der-anwalt-fuer-assange-fuer-die-gelbwesten-und |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref> The report also claimed that the EU "orchestrated the interception and detention of 40,000 people" seeking to flee the country between 2016 and 2019. The document was based on the analysis of five years of statements, decisions and European reports.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-06-03 |title=Deux avocats accusent l'UE de crimes contre l'humanité envers les migrants de Libye |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2019/06/03/plainte-contre-l-union-europeenne-devant-la-cpi-pour-le-traitement-des-migrants-en-libye_5470685_3210.html |access-date=2023-05-10}}</ref> The ] reacted by indicating that “this accusation has no legal basis”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=Migrants : deux avocats veulent que l'UE soit poursuivie pour crime contre l'humanité |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/monde/europe/migrants-deux-avocats-veulent-que-l-ue-soit-poursuivie-pour-crime-contre-l-humanite_2081944.html |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref>

=== Marvel Fitness and Mila affair ===
In 2020, he became the lawyer for the appeal of Marvel Fitness, a Youtuber who was accused of harassing several fitness Youtubers, after he had been convicted in the first instance and remanded in custody, as well as one of the defendants in the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Juan Branco, avocat de l'un des accusés dans l'affaire Mila: "Mon client a simplement exprimé son avis, il ne l'a pas tagé, ni fait de menaces" |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/juan-branco-avocat-de-l-un-des-accuses-dans-l-affaire-mila-mon-client-a-simplement-exprime-son-avis-il-ne-l-a-pas-tage-ni-fait-de-menaces_VN-202106030412.html |access-date=2023-01-07 |language=fr}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Marvel Fitness was released and sentenced on appeal to eighteen months in prison, two of which were suspended. Branco described the trial as "a playground conflict that should not have been litigated".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 2021 |title=Cyberharcelement, le youtubeur Marvel Fitness condamné en appel |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2021/09/28/cyberharcelement-le-youtubeur-marvel-fitness-condamne-en-appel_6096324_4408996.html}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

=== France convoy protest ===
In February 2021, he filed a petition for the protection of fundamental liberties (reféré-liberte) at the Paris Administrative Court to oppose the ban on the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le «convoi de la liberté» interdit de manifestation à Paris, les protestataires pas découragés |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/les-convois-de-la-liberte-interdits-de-toute-manifestation-a-paris-20220210_N7TX6OU5XVC6HEMXBS3F7GXI2Q/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-11 |title="Convois de la liberté" : la préfecture de police mobilise 7.200 policiers et gendarmes à Paris |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/convois-de-la-liberte-la-prefecture-de-police-mobilise-7-200-policiers-et-gendarmes-a-paris-1644564899 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |language=fr}}</ref>

=== Football financial fair-play affairs ===

==== FC Barcelona ====
In 2021, he represented a socio and French supporters of ] who challenged the legality of ]'s transfer to ] in the European Union courts.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Le transfert de Messi au PSG et la "financiarisation du football" devant la justice de l'Union Européenne |url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/transferts/le-transfert-de-messi-au-psg-et-la-financiarisation-du-football-devant-la-justice-de-l-union-europeenne_AV-202210180465.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=RMC SPORT |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-09 |title=Les socios du Barça envisagent de faire capoter l'arrivée de Messi au PSG |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/sport/3099759-20210809-fc-barcelone-aide-juan-branco-socios-preparent-plainte-faire-capoter-arrivee-messi-psg |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref> The plaintiffs argued that PSG, which is owned by a ] fund, was only able to make the purchase because of the postponement in France (until May 2023) of the application of ]'s Financial Fair Play rules, which they claimed amounted to state aid.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=La signature de Lionel Messi au PSG devant la justice européenne |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/La-signature-de-lionel-messi-au-psg-devant-la-justice-europeenne/1359983 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}</ref>

Branco denounced the "creeping financialisation" of football and the fact that control of the sport's governance was being "handed over to UEFA", a private body based in ], rather than to the fans and European citizens.<ref name=":8" /> This complaint was officially rejected in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transfert de Messi au PSG: le recours devant la justice d'un socio et de supporters français du Barça a été rejeté |url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/transferts/transfert-de-messi-au-psg-le-recours-devant-la-justice-d-un-socio-et-de-supporters-francais-du-barca-a-ete-rejete_AV-202302080602.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=RMC SPORT |language=fr}}</ref>

==== La Liga ====
In June 2022, he became ]'s lawyer in France, after the organisation filed a complaint at ] against ] and ] for non-compliance with financial fair play rules.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 June 2022 |title=Football : la Liga engage l'avocat Juan Branco pour plaider sa cause contre le PSG |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Sport/football-la-liga-engage-lavocat-juan-branco-pour-plaider-sa-cause-contre-le-psg-4117917 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> He requested that ]'s contract be terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-17 |title=Foot : avocat de la Liga, Juan Branco réclame l'abrogation du contrat de Mbappé |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/espagne/foot-juan-branco-avocat-de-la-liga-veut-demander-l-abrogation-du-contrat-de-mbappe-20220617 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-22 |title=La Liga exige l'annulation du contrat de Kylian Mbappé avec le PSG |language=fr-CA |work=La Presse |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/2022-07-22/la-liga-exige-l-annulation-du-contrat-de-kylian-mbappe-avec-le-psg.php |access-date=2023-05-21}}</ref>

==== Tayeb Benabderrahmane ====
In September 2022, he became one of the lawyers for Tayeb Benabderrahmane in the PSG spying affair, after he accused the ]i authorities and PSG president ] of "]" and "]" for illegally detaining him, forcing him to return confidential information on the attribution of the ] and sign a confidentiality clause.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-06 |title=Affaire d'espionnage au PSG : le lobbyiste Tayeb Benabderrahmane contre-attaque |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2022/10/06/affaire-d-espionnage-au-psg-le-lobbyiste-tayeb-benabderrahmane-contre-attaque_6144662_3224.html |access-date=2023-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-29 |title=Affaire d'espionnage au PSG : le lobbyiste mis en examen perd une manche devant l'ordre des avocats |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/justice/20221029.OBS65281/affaire-d-espionnage-au-psg-le-lobbyiste-mis-en-examen-perd-une-manche-devant-l-ordre-des-avocats.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=L'Obs |language=fr}}</ref> Branco claimed that his client was a victim at the centre of a "state scandal".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Affaire " explosive " au Qatar : " Un scandale d'État " selon les avocats de Tayeb Benabderrahmane |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Affaire-explosive-relative-a-nasser-al-khelaifi-un-scandale-d-etat-selon-les-avocats-de-tayeb-benabderrahmane/1357714 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}</ref>

=== 2016 Nice terrorist attack ===
In September 2022, he defended victims of the ]. He did not call for the terrorists to be condemned, but for the politicians responsible for security measures on that day to be prosecuted and investigated, in particular the ] of the department and mayor of ], ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=La plaidoirie à la kalach de Juan Branco au procès de l'attentat du 14 juillet 2016 à Nice |url=https://www.nicematin.com/justice/la-plaidoirie-a-la-kalach-de-juan-branco-au-proces-de-l-attentat-du-14-juillet-2016-a-nice-811332 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Nice-Matin |language=fr}}</ref> He also demanded that the videotapes be made public.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-07 |title=Au procès de l'attentat du 14 juillet 2016 à Nice, la délicate question de la diffusion des images du massacre |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/police-justice/article/2022/09/07/au-proces-de-l-attentat-du-14-juillet-2016-a-nice-la-delicate-question-de-la-diffusion-des-images-du-massacre_6140472_1653578.html |access-date=2023-05-24}}</ref> However, Christian Estrosi denied responsibility, thus disappointing the victims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=Procès de l'attentat de Nice : Christian Estrosi ne reconnaît aucune responsabilité et déçoit les victimes |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/alpes-maritimes/nice/proces-de-l-attentat-de-nice-christian-estrosi-ne-reconnait-aucune-responsabilite-et-decoit-les-victimes-2639436.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

=== Ousmane Sonko ===
In 2023, he defended ] opposition leader ], who was accused of ] by the Senegalese Tourism Minister, after a statement about his management of public funds.<ref name=":182">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=L'avocat Juan Branco expulsé du Sénégal en marge d'un procès politique |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/l-avocat-juan-branco-expulse-du-senegal-en-marge-d-un-proces-politique-20230331 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Pourquoi Ousmane Sonko a choisi l'avocat français Juan Branco – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1429276/politique/pourquoi-ousmane-sonko-a-choisi-lavocat-francais-juan-branco/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> On 30 March, he was refused entry into the country by the police at ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Expulsion de Juan Branco du Sénégal : l'art et l'absence de manière ? – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1432013/politique/expulsion-de-juan-branco-du-senegal-lart-et-labsence-de-maniere/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/RFI |date=2023-03-31 |title=Juan Branco, avocat d'Ousmane Sonko, n'était pas le bienvenu au pays de la Teranga |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230331-juan-branco-avocat-d-ousmane-sonko-n-%C3%A9tait-pas-le-bienvenu-au-pays-de-la-teranga |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref>

On 22 June, Juan Branco filed a complaint in France and also called for the ] to investigate Senegalese officials for ']', including President ], his interior minister and the commander of the gendarmerie, as well as 119 suspects throughout the chain of command.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-23 |title=Sénégal : Juan Branco, l'avocat d'Ousmane Sonko, accuse le pouvoir de « crimes contre l'humanité » |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/06/23/senegal-juan-branco-l-avocat-d-ousmane-sonko-accuse-le-pouvoir-de-crimes-contre-l-humanite_6178914_3212.html |access-date=2023-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/RFI |date=2023-06-22 |title=Sénégal: plainte en France et demande d'enquête à la CPI contre Macky Sall pour «crimes contre l'humanité» |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230622-s%C3%A9n%C3%A9gal-plainte-en-france-et-demande-d-enqu%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-la-cpi-contre-macky-sall-pour-crimes-contre-l-humanit%C3%A9 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref> The 168-page document, which contained more than 600 pieces of evidence and detailed 50 deaths in Senegal since March 2021, came in the wake of ] sparked by criminal charges against Sonko that critics said were politically motivated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=Senegal opposition leader Sonko's lawyer files a lawsuit in France and calls for an ICC inquiry |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/senegal-opposition-leader-sonkos-lawyer-files-lawsuit-france-100318676 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> On 12 July 2023, the ] sued Juan Branco for allegedly endangering the lives of French officials in Senegal, whose identities he revealed when accusing them of crimes against humanity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title=INFO EUROPE 1 - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères porte plainte contre Juan Branco |url=https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref>


== Political activity == == Political activity ==
As a student, Branco actively supported former right-wing Prime Minister ], a friend of his mother's.<ref name="Tabet 20–23">{{cite journal |date=March 2020 |title=Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco |last=Tabet |language=fr |journal=Le Parisien |issue=23487 |pages=20–23}}</ref>
=== The Greens and Jeune République (2008-2009) ===
] founded by Juan Branco.]]
During his studies at Sciences Po, he became involved in school reform projects with the director ].<ref name=":62" /> Reputed close to ],<ref name="lefigaro.fr2" /> he joined the ], leading the ] section and mobilising in particular against ].<ref name=":52" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-21 |title=Non à la directive de la honte, la suite - Les Jeunes Verts Paris Île-de-France |url=http://jeunesverts.org/paris/index.php/post/2008/06/12/Non-a-la-directive-de-la-honte-la-suite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821141340/http://jeunesverts.org/paris/index.php/post/2008/06/12/Non-a-la-directive-de-la-honte-la-suite |archive-date=2008-08-21 |access-date=2023-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-03 |title=JEUNES VERTS, (PETITS) CHASSEURS DE 4X4 |url=https://latelelibre.fr/reportages/jeunes-verts-petits-chasseurs-de-4x4/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=LaTeleLibre.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


Afterwards he supported ] and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President ] (]). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications ], who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election.
] states : “After appearing on a Green list in the ]s, he created the Jeune République ] at the end of his second year, identified as close to Dominique de Villepin. "On the ideas, there was always a certain coherence, however, I was searching the way to defend them", he explains. "<ref name=":02" />


Branco then joined the left-wing populist party ]. He stood in the ] for ] where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss".<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/> After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of ] in the ] his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.<ref name="francetvinfo.fr"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref>
=== Fight against Hadopi law (2009-2012) ===
In 2009, together with ],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rees |first=Marc |date=2009-06-30 |title=Création Public Internet : l'alternative à Hadopi contre 5 euros |url=https://www.nextinpact.com/archive/51715-assises-creation-public-internet-licence.htm |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.nextinpact.com |language=fr}}</ref> he fought against the ], a French bill enforcing copyright protection on the Internet,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-04 |title=Juan Branco une grosse production |url=http://revuecharles.fr/juan-branco-une-grosse-production/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204154109/http://revuecharles.fr/juan-branco-une-grosse-production/ |archive-date=2016-02-04 |access-date=2023-05-16}}</ref> by creating the platform ''Création, Public, Internet'' and by writing an ] against the project in April 2009, which was signed by personalities from the film industry, including his father, ], ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Akerman |first1=Chantal |last2=Honoré |first2=Christophe |last3=Morel |first3=Gael |last4=Limosin |first4=Jean-Pierre |last5=Modiano |first5=Zina |last6=Abril |first6=Victoria |last7=Deneuve |first7=Catherine |last8=Garrel |first8=Louis |last9=Gonzalez |first9=Yann |title=Lettre ouverte aux spectateurs citoyens |url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/2009/04/07/lettre-ouverte-aux-spectateurs-citoyens_551338/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Un certain cinéma français contre la loi Création et Internet - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/un-certain-cinema-francais-contre-la-loi-creation-et-internet-119514-07-04-2009/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":192">{{Cite news |date=2011-06-06 |title="Réponses à Hadopi", de Juan Branco : vive la licence globale ! |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2011/06/06/reponses-a-hadopi-de-juan-branco_1532488_3260.html |access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref> The signatories denounced the "liberticidal" nature of the Hadopi Law and called on politicians to think about "new methods of remuneration" and to "meet the expectations of the public".<ref name=":192" /> He became acquainted with ] during the fight against Hadopi.<ref name=":72">Durand 2016</ref>


His book ''Réponses à Hadopi'', published in 2011, proposed the development of a new legal and financial system for the film industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dussueil |first=Jeanne |date=2013-01-04 |title=Polémique sur le salaire des acteurs : "Il faut réformer le système de financement du cinéma" |url=https://www.challenges.fr/media/polemique-sur-le-salaire-des-acteurs-il-faut-reformer-le-systeme-de-financement-du-cinema_8256 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Challenges |language=fr}}</ref> He became a vocal supporter of the ], some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle,<ref name="lefigaro.fr"/> and a critic of ] ] thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2019-05-07|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Franceinfo|language=french}}</ref>


In 2018 he ] the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman ] on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lincorrect.org/nous-serons-probablement-demain-lun-et-lautre-des-ennemis-principiels-juan-branco/|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels |date=17 January 2019}}</ref>
=== Socialist Party (2012) ===
During the ], he became involved in the ] and worked several months in the cultural centre of ]'s campaign.<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /> As a member of the "Culture, Audiovisual and Media" pole - led by future French Minister of Culture and Communication ] - ,<ref name=":02" /> and presented by ] as her ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Génération Y: portraits de digital natives (2/2) - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/generation-y-portraits-de-digital-natives-22-20188-24-02-2012/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":122"/> Branco defended a reform of the French ], including the repeal of the ] and the decriminalisation of non-commercial ] cultural exchanges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco, un anti-Hadopi auprès d'Aurélie Filippetti |url=https://www.lalettrea.fr/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=La Lettre A |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":112">{{Cite web |title=L'histoire secrète du programme culturel du candidat Hollande |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://perso.crans.org/raybaud/mediapart-20120607-programme_culture_candidat_hollande.pdf/index.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=]}}</ref>

However, he was dismissed the day after the presidential election,<ref name=":122">{{Cite web |title=Hadopi : Juan Branco "inquiet" sur la volonté d'Aurélie Filippetti de changer les choses - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/hadopi-96515-24-05-2012/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref> in favor of personalities from the cultural industries who were more favorable to Hadopi like ] or ].<ref name=":202">{{Cite news |date=2012-05-22 |title=Hadopi fait une première victime à gauche |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2012/05/22/hadopi-fait-une-premiere-victime-a-gauche_1705472_823448.html |access-date=2023-05-17}}</ref><ref name=":132">{{Cite web |title=Voici Filippetti, et Valois le travail |url=https://www.liberation.fr/ecrans/2012/05/23/voici-filippetti-et-valois-le-travail_958193/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":112" /> '']'' stated, "Hadopi makes first victim on the left".<ref name=":202" /> According to Juan Branco, this was a result of a ] campaign from some of the cultural industries against his reform.<ref name=":122" /><ref name=":132" /> ]'s investigation confirmed an "accumulation of interests", in particular, Pierre Lescure's name had been suggested to François Hollande by ].<ref name=":112" /> Aurélie Filippetti, on the other hand, claimed that it was her refusal to accept Branco's request to become her chief of staff that led to his departure.<ref name=":02" />

=== Indignados movement and Partido X (2013-2014) ===
He was then involved in the Spanish ].<ref name=":72" /> During this period, he was edited by ], ] and ],<ref name=":72" /> and intervened alongside ],<ref name=":72" /> ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Réponses à Hadopi, suivi d'un entretien avec Jean-Luc Godard |url=https://www.academia.edu/signup?a_id=30870353 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.academia.edu}}</ref> and ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-11 |title=Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy {{!}} Speakers {{!}} Juan Branco |url=http://www.genevasummit.org/speaker/74/juan_branco |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211005621/http://www.genevasummit.org/speaker/74/juan_branco |archive-date=2015-12-11 |access-date=2023-05-16}}</ref> on issues of copyright, mass violence and surveillance in the digital era.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Symposium: Mass Surveillance — When Reality Exceeds The Fiction {{!}} La Quadrature du Net |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https://www.laquadrature.net/fr/node/8844 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=archive.wikiwix.com}}</ref>

He later joined the campaign team of ], arising from the Indignados movement, during the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=candidates xteam |url=https://partidox.org/candidates-xteam/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Candidatos y Programa para las Elecciones Europeas – Partido X, Partido del Futuro |url=https://eleccioneseuropeas.partidox.org/candidatos-equipox/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |language=es-ES}}</ref>

=== Opposition to Emmanuel Macron (since 2013) ===
A fierce critic of ] long before his election, he invited the journalist ] to investigate him in 2013,<ref>{{Citation |title=Macron : les réseaux secrets ? Marc Endeweld |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvfXlbk-n9c |access-date=2023-05-17 |language=en}}</ref> claiming that the conditions of his accession to power would determine the exercise of his power.<ref name=":62" /> From 2016, he described the possible election of the ] candidate as a precursor to the election of ], and defended the blank ballot between the two rounds of the ].<ref>{{Citation |title=Macron contre Le Pen - Pourquoi Juan Branco a invité à voter blanc |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdNi3b35q4 |access-date=2023-05-17 |language=en}}</ref>

=== La France Insoumise (2017-2018) ===
Branco then ran in the ]s in ] under the label of ], whose leader ] was convinced by his support for Julian Assange.<ref name="lefigaro.fr2" /><ref name=":62" /> Branco came fourth and was eliminated in the first round, with 13.9% of the votes cast and 5.5% of those registered. Ahead of him were ] (], 15.1%), Ludovic Toro (], 19.7%) and ] (], 33.8%), who was elected in the second round.<ref>{{Cite web |last=l'Intérieur |first=Ministère de |title=Résultats des élections législatives 2017 |url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Legislatives/elecresult__legislatives-2017 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Legislatives/elecresult__legislatives-2017 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Résultats des élections législatives 2022 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/data/12eme-circonscription-de-seine-saint-denis-09312/elections/legislatives-2017/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Le Monde.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

=== Yellow Vests movement (since 2018) ===
He supported the ] from the start and called for the dismissal of Emmanuel Macron.<ref name=":02" /><ref name="lexpress.fr22" />

He became the ] lawyer for protest figures, such as ], ] and Stéphane Espic,<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":82" /><ref name=":92" /><ref name=":102" /> and also a friend of Maxime Nicolle, for whose autobiography ''Fly Rider, gilet jaune'' he wrote the preface, and of whom he said, "He is more intelligent than I am : I have learnt a lot from him, whether it is about French society, what he thinks of the current institutions, his experience of life in the army...".<ref name=":0" />

He demonstrated several times alongside the yellow vests.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":0" /> He was present on 5 January 2019 when a forklift truck forced its way into the office of the government spokesman, ].<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":0" /> In February 2019, in an interview with ], he said of Macron's movement : "They are not corrupt, they are corruption".<ref name=":142">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-19 |title=PORTRAIT. Qui est Juan Branco, avocat radical et polémique ? |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/politique/benjamin-griveaux/portrait-juan-branco-un-avocat-radical-et-polemique-figure-de-l-affaire-griveaux-6744454 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Ouest-France.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

Back in July 2017, in an interview with ] and in a first passage for ], he had indeed anticipated a major political rupture as well as an increase in ] in the country, due to an "authoritarian temptation" arising from the conditions of Emmanuel Macron's accession to power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-18 |title=Macron ou la tentation autoritaire {{!}} Entretiens |url=https://la-bas.org/la-bas-magazine/entretiens/Macron-ou-la-tentation-autoritaire |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Là-bas si j'y suis |language=fr}}</ref>

During the ], Branco called for ], which earned him the disapproval of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.<ref name=":02" />

== Writing activity ==
{{Summarize section|date=July 2023}}
=== ''Réponses à Hadopi'' ===
In 2011, Branco published ''Réponses à Hadopi'', a ] that imagines the development of a new legal and financial system for the film industry, and examines the concrete impact of the "global licence" on the cinema economy.<ref name=":192" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco "Ce qui me fait rire ? Bernard-Henri Lévy en Libye Et partout ailleurs" |url=https://www.liberation.fr/cinema/2011/11/30/juan-branco-ce-qui-me-fait-rire-bernard-henri-levy-en-libye-et-partout-ailleurs_778280/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-25 |title=Juan Branco: "Hadopi a créé une ligne de fracture très forte qui empêche tout dialogue" |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/culture/730414-20110525-juan-branco-hadopi-cree-ligne-fracture-tres-forte-empeche-tout-dialogue |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

He imagined that in the following election, almost all the political parties had included the "global licence" in their presidential election manifestos: that is, freedom of downloading, accompanied by a mechanism to compensate artists and their ], instead of penalising Internet users who ] works.<ref name=":192" />

Branco then imagined that the average ] and telephone subscription would be raised from 30 euros to 35 euros. In return, ] customers would have unlimited access to cultural content. The difference of 5 euros would be a nice sum, at least 1.2 billion euros, thanks to the 20 million households that would be connected in 2011. This money would go to artists' ]s on a basis proportional to the number of downloads, plus a redistribution to promote cultural diversity. 400 million of this total of 1.2 billion euros would go to the cinema, according to the economic model proposed by ], founder of ].<ref name=":192" />

He concluded: "The global licence is in fact the last hope of a cultural exception that is becoming increasingly fragile". This plea is followed by an interview with ], for whom "the author's only right is his duty to create".<ref name=":192" />


=== ''Crépuscule'' === === ''Crépuscule'' ===
Branco's book ''Crépuscule'', in which he criticized the French president ], was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full|title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019|title = "Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco| date=11 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias|title = "Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"|date = 26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique|title = "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis|date = 6 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html|title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco|date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco|title = Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 17 April 2019}}</ref>
{{Main|Crépuscule (book)}}
In December 2018, he published '']'' on his blog hosted by ], a long document which criticized the rise of Emmanuel Macron and his links to the wealthy ]s of the French press, a vitriolic attack on a section of the Parisian ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Word - Macron et son crepuscule 29 décembre.docx |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbranco.blog.lemonde.fr%2Ffiles%2F2019%2F01%2FMacron-et-son-Crepuscule.pdf%2Findex.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=archive.wikiwix.com}}</ref> and a call for popular revolt. He described Macron's movement as "a new form of fascism".<ref name=":142" /><ref name=":212">{{cite web |date=2019-04-26 |title=" Crépuscule " de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter |url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias |access-date=2019-04-26 |website=]}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref> He already reported a major democratic aporia in ''Contre Macron'', a first philosophical text published online in July 2017 and published by Divergences in January 2019.

Shortly after the publication of his text, he was reported to the public prosecutor's office by the French deputy ] for "arming people's minds to legitimise violence in the country".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-09 |title=Aurore Bergé a signalé à la justice les propos incitant à la violence de deux cadres LFI |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Aurore-Berge-a-signale-a-la-justice-les-propos-incitant-a-la-violence-de-deux-cadres-LFI-1598580 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=parismatch.com |language=fr}}</ref> He denied any fault and claimed responsibility for his writings,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-18 |title=Attaqués par Bergé, Guénolé et Branco se défendent |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2019/01/18/97001-20190118FILWWW00303-attaques-par-berge-guenole-et-branco-se-defendent.php |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr}}</ref> and was defended by ],<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /> by ], who introduced the written version of his text, or even by ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-20 |title=Dons à Notre-Dame : "Et qu'en est-il des sans-abri ?", s'interroge Pamela Anderson |url=https://www.europe1.fr/people/dons-a-notre-dame-et-quen-est-il-des-sans-abris-demande-pamela-anderson-3894044 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Europe 1 |language=fr}}</ref>

After being downloaded around 100,000 times, ''Crépuscule'' was published by ] in March 2019 and sold 250,000 copies.<ref name=":182" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2020-02-17 |title=Derrière la chute de Benjamin Griveaux, enquête sur le rôle d'un trio sans foi ni loi |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/02/17/derriere-la-chute-de-benjamin-griveaux-un-trio-sans-foi-ni-loi_6029811_823448.html |access-date=2023-05-17}}</ref><ref name=":152">{{Cite web |title="Crépuscule", de Juan Branco, est-il en tête des ventes de livres sans avoir été médiatisé ? |url=https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/2019/04/03/crepuscule-de-juan-branco-est-il-en-tete-des-ventes-de-livres-sans-avoir-ete-mediatise_1718700/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref> Abroad, it has been covered by the media, particularly in ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-15 |title=Juan Branco nos presenta su "Crespúsculo" |url=https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/cinco-continentes/juan-branco-presenta-su-crepusculo/5146747/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boileau |first=Clément |date=2023-05-17 |title=Que vaut "Crépuscule", le brûlot de Juan Branco qui crispe la presse française ? |url=https://www.lalibre.be/culture/livres-bd/2019/04/15/que-vaut-crepuscule-le-brulot-de-juan-branco-qui-crispe-la-presse-francaise-JUEGB3WAXRG47F5LMFTXETHR5A/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":162">{{Cite web |last=Boileau |first=Clément |date=2023-05-17 |title="Complotiste", "fasciste"... Qui est Juan Branco, conseiller juridique de Wikileaks qui s'est mis à dos la presse française ? |url=https://www.lalibre.be/international/2019/04/19/complotiste-fasciste-qui-est-juan-branco-conseiller-juridique-de-wikileaks-qui-sest-mis-a-dos-la-presse-francaise-FABMJHM4QZDPLL2P5EPYGLJBUQ/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 April 2019 |title=Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco? |newspaper=Le Temps |url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco}}</ref> but not in France, despite having been on several literary ].<ref name=":152" /> Belgian newspaper '']'' wondered : "Who is Juan Branco, the Wikileaks legal adviser who has alienated the French press?"<ref name=":162" /> It wasn't until the end of April 2019 that some French media reviewed the book, mostly negatively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune |url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2019 |title="Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco |url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 April 2019 |title="Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter" |url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 June 2019 |title="Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis |url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique}}</ref><ref name=":222">{{Cite web |date=25 April 2019 |title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html}}</ref>

It is the first volume of a ], followed by ''Abattre l'ennemi'' in 2021 and ''Coup d'état'' in 2023.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco, l'insurrection qui tarde à venir |url=https://www.liberation.fr/idees-et-debats/juan-branco-linsurrection-qui-tarde-a-venir-20230412_ZWRJ6JAS3VH3POYPU36DILAXWA/ |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref>

=== ''Assange, L'anti-souverain'' ===
In January 2020, he published ''Assange, L'anti-souverain,'' a 489-page biography of ] founder ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikileaks : une biographie de Julian Assange, par son avocat Juan Branco |url=https://actualitte.com/article/11687/reseaux-sociaux/wikileaks-une-biographie-de-julian-assange-par-son-avocat-juan-branco |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=ActuaLitté.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=JBG |date=2020-02-07 |title=Juan Branco : "Julian Assange n'est pas dans la compromission avec la ... |url=https://www.sudradio.fr/societe/juan-branco-julian-assange-nest-pas-dans-la-compromission-avec-la-verite |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Sud Radio |language=fr-FR}}</ref> In this book, he traces the career of the Australian ] and the news website he created, opens up the debate about this anti-sovereignist figure, and also addresses the growing public distrust of the traditional media.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-11 |title=Juan Branco : Assange, figure d'un nouvel ordre mondial ? |url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/la-grande-table-idees/juan-branco-assange-figure-d-un-nouvel-ordre-mondial-1880060 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=France Culture |language=fr}}</ref> Branco argues that Assange is a "]" in that he has invented a new "desintermediated" relationship with information based on an immediately accessible source document.<ref name=":1" />

Branco then contrasts the figures of the two ]s, Julian Assange and ].<ref name=":1" /> He looks at the "Assange event" and compares it to the "Snowden advent".<ref name=":12" /> While acknowledging the courage of Edward Snowden, the whistleblower, former ] agent and ] contractor behind the ], Juan Branco insists on one point: Edward Snowden is not really subverting the system.<ref name=":12" /> As a former servant and a good "patriot", libertarian, pro-], he is suffering from a "crisis of conscience". Julian Assange, on the other hand, embodies a complete "anti-sovereignty" that really subverts the system.<ref name=":12" />

=== ''The Republic does not belong to you'' ===
On 9 December 2019, Branco was invited to give a speech in the honour amphitheatre of the French ].<ref name=":0" /> He told the students of France's most prestigious engineering school, "The Republic does not belong to you".<ref name=":3" /> The speech was organised by ''Les Tribunes de l'X'', a Polytechnique student society.<ref name=":0" /> It was then transcribed into an ] entitled ''La République ne vous appartient pas'' (The Republic does not belong to you) which was published on 7 May 2020.<ref name=":1" />

=== ''Abattre l'ennemi'' ===
In March 2021, he published ''Abattre l'ennemi'' (Defeat the enemy), a political manifesto proposing solutions and a detailed governance project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-05 |title="Abattre l'ennemi" : le nouvel Évangile selon Juan Branco |url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/litterature/abattre-lennemi-le-nouvel-evangile-selon-juan-branco |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco : "Il y a encore la possibilité d'une guerre civile dans ce pays" |url=https://actualitte.com/article/99615/interviews/juan-branco-il-y-a-encore-la-possibilite-d-une-guerre-civile-dans-ce-pays |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=ActuaLitté.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> It calls for a major paradigm shift by proposing a revolutionary programme, including the creation of ], but also a change of the country's leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abattre l'ennemi, le nouveau manifeste politique de Juan Branco |url=https://actualitte.com/article/99463/avant-parutions/abattre-l-ennemi-le-nouveau-manifeste-politique-de-juan-branco |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=ActuaLitté.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> It is the second volume of a ] begun with ''Crépuscule.''<ref name=":4" />

=== ''Coup d'état'' ===
In March 2023, he concluded the trilogy he began with ''Crépuscule'' and ''Abattre l'ennemi'' by publishing ''Coup d'état,'' a manual for insurgents that aims to provide the tools to lead a revolution,<ref>{{Cite web |last=JBG |date=2023-04-04 |title=Juan Branco : "on ne croit plus en la parole du politique" - |url=https://www.sudradio.fr/sud-radio/juan-branco-on-ne-croit-plus-en-la-parole-du-politique |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Sud Radio |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and calls for the seizure of power by force.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Causeur.fr |date=2023-03-28 |title=Juan Branco: le chaos très au point |url=https://www.causeur.fr/juan-branco-coup-d-etat-257428 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Causeur |language=fr-FR}}</ref> It examines the scenarios of ], ] and ], with the possibilities of success or failure, the advantages and disadvantages of each option.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco : "Je n'y survivrai pas. Vous et moi le savons" |url=https://actualitte.com/article/110974/interviews/juan-branco-je-n-y-survivrai-pas-vous-et-moi-le-savons |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=ActuaLitté.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> The first two parts are devoted to analysing the nature, constraints and conditions of the exercise of power.<ref name=":5" />

=== ''Hanouna'' ===
In May 2023, he announced the publication of his forthcoming book ''Hanouna'', which promises to tackle the French ] and in particular ] host ]: "What is Hanouna ? Nothing. Nada. Keutchi. A pawn in a system that would be useless to overthrow on its own, ".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=" Qu'est-ce que Cyril Hanouna ? Rien. Nada. Keutchi. " : le livre choc de Juan Branco très attendu |url=https://www.charentelibre.fr/societe/medias/television/qu-est-ce-que-cyril-hanouna-rien-nada-keutchi-le-livre-choc-de-juan-branco-tres-attendu-15195294.php |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=CharenteLibre.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-16 |title=Ce livre de Juan Branco sur Cyril Hanouna s'annonce piquant |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/culture/article/juan-branco-publie-un-livre-sur-cyril-hanouna-et-ca-s-annonce-piquant_217916.html |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Le HuffPost |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=Cyril Hanouna ciblé dans le prochain livre de l'avocat Juan Branco |url=https://programmetv.ouest-france.fr/personnalites/cyril-hanouna/cyril-hanouna-cible-dans-le-prochain-livre-de-lavocat-juan-branco-e8b863e0-f639-11ed-81c3-16bd97291488 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=programmetv.ouest-france.fr |language=fr}}</ref> ''Hanouna'' will be published on June 1, but the book is already a bestseller in online bookstores.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Hanouna" : Juan Branco annonce la publication d'un livre sur l'animateur de TPMP et se place déjà en tête des ventes |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/05/16/hanouna-juan-branco-annonce-la-publication-dun-livre-sur-lanimateur-de-tpmp-et-se-place-deja-en-tete-des-ventes-11199636.php |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=ladepeche.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=à 16h48 |first=Par Le Parisien Le 18 mai 2023 |date=2023-05-18 |title=" Qu'est-ce que Cyril Hanouna ? Rien " : l'animateur de C8 ciblé dans le prochain livre de Juan Branco |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/livres/cyril-hanouna-cible-par-juan-branco-dans-un-livre-a-charge-deja-en-tete-des-preventes-18-05-2023-AS6GAVQFG5AUFP4RK6E36YO5IY.php |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


== Legal advice and representations ==
== Journalistic activity ==
He was in 2015 the legal advisor by ] and met with ], trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.<ref></ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/affaire-griveaux-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-juan-branco-20200217|title = Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco|date = 17 February 2020}}</ref>
Between 2008 and 2019, Branco has written columns for ],<ref name=":232">{{Cite web |last=Branco |first=Juan |date=2016-11-01 |title=Les étranges affaires d'Areva en Afrique |url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2016/11/BRANCO/56798 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Le Monde diplomatique |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Branco |first=Juan |date=2018-09-01 |title=Centrafrique, la déroute des Nations unies |url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2018/09/BRANCO/59011 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Le Monde diplomatique |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco |url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/auteurs/juan-branco |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Le Monde diplomatique |language=fr}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite web |date=12 February 2019 |title=La vérité absente du procès Colonna |url=https://www.humanite.fr/node/500 |website=]}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref> ''],''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Branco |first=Juan |title=La démocratie espagnole contre le juge Garzón |url=https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2010/05/18/la-democratie-espagnole-contre-le-juge-garzon_626684/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Branco |first1=Juan |last2=Clarou |first2=Alphonse |title=Godard et la société du FN |url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/2014/06/22/godard-et-la-societe-du-fn_1047718/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="libehollande2">{{cite web |date=2013-08-04 |title=Hollande ou la parole présidentielle fragmentée |url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2013/08/04/hollande-ou-la-parole-presidentielle-fragmentee_922757 |website=]}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref>'', ],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Branco |first=Juan |date=2015 |title=Le spectre d'Assange |url=http://www.cairn.info/revue-esprit-2015-1-page-82.htm |journal=Esprit |language=fr |volume=Janvir |issue=1 |pages=82 |doi=10.3917/espri.1501.0082 |issn=0014-0759}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Branco |first=Juan |date=2014 |title=Podemos : l'indignation au pouvoir ? |url=http://www.cairn.info/revue-esprit-2014-12-page-120.htm |journal=Esprit |language=fr |volume=Décmbr |issue=12 |pages=120 |doi=10.3917/espri.1412.0120 |issn=0014-0759}}</ref>'' and ''].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proche-Orient : "Obama est passé d'une stratégie visionnaire à la realpolitik" - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/proche-orient-obama-passe-dune-strategie-visionnaire-realpolitik-4255-30-09-2013/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/auteur/juan-branco/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Les Inrocks |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


Branco passed the bar in 2017, and, in 2019, have had 3 clients in two years, including his father, and was receiving ] assistance ('']'') during that time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html|title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco|date=29 April 2019}}</ref>
In 2013, he was reporter during the ] for ''Les Inrockuptibles''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-02 |title=Juan Branco ou l'histoire secrète d'une obsession |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/20191002.OBS19228/juan-branco-ou-l-histoire-secrete-d-une-obsession.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=L'Obs |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Centrafrique : à Bangui, la tension est à son comble - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/bangui-centrafrique-tension-comble-115933-21-12-2013/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Centrafrique : l'erreur française à Bozoum - Les Inrocks |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/centrafrique-lerreur-francaise-bozoum-116043-25-12-2013/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=https://www.lesinrocks.com/ |language=fr-FR}}</ref>


He has represented his father ] and won his case against ] in '']'' case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/paris-appeals-court-rules-in-favour-of-paulo-branco-on-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/5130200.article|title=Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'|work=Screen|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, he investigated ]'s operations in the ], known as the "Uramin scandal", for ''Le Monde Diplomatique,<ref name=":0" />''<ref name=":172" /><ref name=":232" /> and in 2019 he published an article entitled "The indomitable Julian Assange".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-01 |title=L'indomptable Julian Assange |url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2019/05/BRANCO/59876 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Le Monde diplomatique |language=fr}}</ref>


In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the ] cyberbullying case.<ref>{{cite news |title=France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-religion-islam-technology-37d079cbf54c3b9880305f2fb2365a11 |access-date=1 November 2022 |work=] |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
He then developed a critique of ], notably in his book ''Crépuscule.''<ref name=":222" /><ref name=":212" /><ref>{{cite web |date=2019-05-12 |title=Cognin (Savoie) - Il dit avoir été menacé. Juan Branco a annulé sa venue au dernier moment |url=https://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2019/05/12/juan-branco-a-annule-sa-venue-au-dernier-moment |access-date=2020-02-17 |website=]}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref>


=== Griveaux affair ===
On 25 March 2020, Branco revealed that a hospital in the ] region had started to dramatically 'triaged' certain patients due to a lack of resources in the midst of the ]. He shared an internal document from the Parisian ] hospital which referred to a 75-year-old patient with no medical history and possible coronavirus who was denied an intensive care bed due to a lack of space. The AP-HP confirmed the authenticity of the document and acknowledged "tensions over ICU beds".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-28 |title=Un patient sans antécédents privé d'un lit en réanimation en Ile-de-France? |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2749939-20200328-coronavirus-ile-france-patient-antecedents-prive-lit-reanimation-manque-place |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist ] both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting ], then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Juan Branco was himself involved in the leak,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/videos-intimes-de-griveaux-le-role-trouble-de-juan-branco-14-02-2020-2362721_20.php|title=Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco|website=lepoint.fr|date=14 February 2020|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> a criminal offense under French law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/france-shrugs-at-sex-scandals-but-after-a-leaked-video-this-politician-bowed-out/2020/02/14/263256c0-4f0f-11ea-967b-e074d302c7d4_story.html|title=France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out. |website=washingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> This was denied by Branco.


Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/piotr-pavlenski-dans-les-coulisses-de-sa-soiree-du-31-decembre-2019-29-02-2020-8269833.php|title = Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris|date = 29 February 2020}}</ref>
== Other activities ==
{{Summarize section|date=July 2023}}
After he published '']'' in December 2018, denouncing the ] in the hands of billionaires and their role in the election of ], he alienated the French press, which began to criticise him harshly ("complotist", "fascist"...) and investigate his background.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boileau |first=Clément |date=2023-05-21 |title="Complotiste", "fasciste"... Qui est Juan Branco, conseiller juridique de Wikileaks qui s'est mis à dos la presse française ? |url=https://www.lalibre.be/international/2019/04/19/complotiste-fasciste-qui-est-juan-branco-conseiller-juridique-de-wikileaks-qui-sest-mis-a-dos-la-presse-francaise-FABMJHM4QZDPLL2P5EPYGLJBUQ/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref>


After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance".<ref>{{cite web|title=Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/affaire-griveaux-le-batonnier-de-paris-demande-a-branco-de-ne-pas-defendre-pavlenski-19-02-2020-2363332_2386.php|website=lepoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-02-19|access-date=2020-03-07|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more.<ref>{{cite web|title=Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/branco-redevient-avocat-de-pavlenski-et-demande-une-expertise-psychiatrique-de-griveaux_2120123.html|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-05|access-date=2020-03-05|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/griveaux-la-justice-refuse-l-expertise-psychiatrique-demandee-par-branco-11-03-2020-2366834_2386.php#xtmc=branco&xtnp=1&xtcr=4|website=LePoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-12|access-date=2020-04-01|title=Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco}}</ref>
=== Conflict with L'Express ===
In an article published on 11 February 2019, ] claimed that Branco had not been "in charge of a seminar" at the ], described him as a "chic radical who wants the skin of Macron", criticised his closeness to the ], recalled the controversy with ] and questioned the sincerity of his commitment.<ref name="lexpress.fr22" /> Exercising his ], published by the newspaper on 29 April 2019, Branco criticised the article for presenting "a one-sided portrait of a 29-year-old man, based in particular on facts that occurred during minority";<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-29 |title=Droit de réponse de Juan Branco |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/politique/droit-de-reponse-de-juan-branco_2074683.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref> he also pointed out that L'Express is owned by the businessman and billionaire ], who had been heavily criticised in ].<ref name="ReferenceB2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-15 |title=L'Express VS Juan Branco : le vrai du faux - Par Manuel Vicuña {{!}} Arrêt sur images |url=https://www.arretsurimages.net/articles/lexpress-vs-juan-branco-le-vrai-du-faux |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.arretsurimages.net}}</ref><ref name=":02" />


In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings are being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html|website=nouvelobs.com|language=fr|date=2020-10-08|access-date=2020-12-17|title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco}}</ref>
=== Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages ===
In February 2019, ] claimed that, after a dispute with the wife of a former Sciences Po professor over the latter's Misplaced Pages page, he impersonated a Misplaced Pages administrator by signing an email to her employer saying she had unduly modified the page. The professor had alledgely given him a zero for ] during the ].<ref name="ReferenceB2" />


== Controversial claims ==
On 21 February 2020, ] claimed that Branco had been editing his own ] pages for many years, in an attempt to embellish his biography. He alledgely made his edits under several identities, using so-called ]. According to the French newspaper, he had also edited other people's articles to portray them in a negative light.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2020 |title=Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/sur-wikipedia-les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco-20200221}}</ref>


Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications ],<ref name="ReferenceB"/> but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She describes him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful", as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".<ref name="francetvinfo.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
=== Benjamin Griveaux affair ===
On 14 February 2020, it was reported that he was representing the Russian artist ], both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting Paris mayoral elections candidate ] on his website ''Pornopolitique''. Multiple sources claimed that Branco was involved in the leak. This was denied by Branco.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2020 |title=Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/videos-intimes-de-griveaux-le-role-trouble-de-juan-branco-14-02-2020-2362721_20.php |access-date=2020-02-29 |website=lepoint.fr |language=fr}}</ref>


After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French Bar Association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found, but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance".<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-02-19 |title=Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/affaire-griveaux-le-batonnier-de-paris-demande-a-branco-de-ne-pas-defendre-pavlenski-19-02-2020-2363332_2386.php |access-date=2020-03-07 |website=lepoint.fr |language=fr |publication-date=}}</ref> Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more.<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-03-05 |title=Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/branco-redevient-avocat-de-pavlenski-et-demande-une-expertise-psychiatrique-de-griveaux_2120123.html |access-date=2020-03-05 |website=LExpress.fr |language=fr |publication-date=}}</ref> Branco went on to request an ironical psychological evaluation of Griveaux to know if he had a "cognitive dissociation, and possibly to distinguish it from the more classic ] syndrome seen in a number of high-level politicians", whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate.<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-03-12 |title=Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/griveaux-la-justice-refuse-l-expertise-psychiatrique-demandee-par-branco-11-03-2020-2366834_2386.php#xtmc=branco&xtnp=1&xtcr=4 |access-date=2020-04-01 |website=LePoint.fr |language=fr}}</ref> In 2016 he solicited ], the only surviving member of the group directly involved in ] (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing ].<ref name="Abdeslam">{{cite web|title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam|url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341|website=valeursactuelles.com|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller|url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425|website=rtl.fr|date=22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.<ref>{{cite web|title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat|url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1582648688|website=marianne.net|date=25 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref>


In 2018, ''L'Express'' stated that Branco is making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told ''L'Express'' that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school do. He also claimed "never having created a ]", but ''L'Express'' provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings were being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco |url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=nouvelobs.com |language=fr}}</ref>


Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the ]. Asked for a clarification by the French journal ''GQ France'', the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=] |edition=French |language=FR |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco|title = Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021044523/https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco |archive-date=2021-10-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In September 2021, he received a blame from the Paris Bar Association for having "amplified the viral distribution" of the intimate videos, but was largely cleared of the other charges.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leplongeon |first=Marc |date=2021-10-04 |title=INFO LE POINT. Affaire Griveaux : Juan Branco sanctionné d'un blâme |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/info-le-point-affaire-griveaux-juan-branco-sanctionne-d-un-blame-04-10-2021-2446153_23.php |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>


In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (]) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of ] - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un/un-fires-central-africa-legal-adviser-who-accused-peacekeepers-of-massacre-idUSKCN1IW265 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre
In September 2022, the investigating magistrates cleared Branco of all charges.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=Affaire Griveaux : Juan Branco échappe à la justice… mais pas Piotr Pavlenski ni sa compagne |url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/police-et-justice/affaire-griveaux-juan-branco-echappe-a-la-justicemais-pas-piotr-pavlenski-ni-sa-compagne |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref>
|first=Aaron |last=Ross |date=May 31, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> He had been tasked as an independent expert for the ] with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fr.africanews.com/2018/05/31/centrafrique-la-minusca-expulse-un-expert-francais-qui-l-accuse-de-crimes |title=Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes |lang=fr |first=Carole |last=Kouassi |date=31 May 2018 |website=fr.africanews.com}}</ref>


== Personal legal cases ==
In June 2023, the ] overturned the discipline imposed on Branco by the Paris Bar Association.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Justice. Affaire Griveaux: la cour d'appel de Paris annule un blâme infligé à l'avocat Juan Branco |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/faits-divers-justice/2023/06/09/la-cour-d-appel-de-paris-annule-un-blame-inflige-a-l-avocat-juan-branco |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.leprogres.fr |language=FR-fr}}</ref>
In April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of abusing her. She declared to the police she had felt threatened and coerced by Branco into a sexual relation while she was under the influence of a drug they had taken together.<ref>{{cite news |title="J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/02/enquete-pour-viol-contre-lavocat-juan-branco-son-accusatrice-revient-sur-les-faits-9521758.php |newspaper=ladepeche.fr |date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
Branco claimed the relation was consensual.
<ref>{{cite news |title=L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/04/30/l-avocat-juan-branco-vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol_6078680_3224.html |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |date=30 April 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Décugis |first1=Jean-Michel |title=Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol-lavocat-juan-branco-place-en-garde-a-vue-01-06-2021-EGEJ347CFZBKRCXVOID5IQJBPU.php |website=Le Parisien |date=June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
He has been put under official criminal investigation on the count of rape in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/info-le-point-juan-branco-mis-en-examen-pour-viol-24-11-2021-2453599_23.php |newspaper=lepoint.fr |date=24 November 2021}}</ref>


In 2023, a former employee of Branco sued him for moral harassment and infringement of French labor law. She revealed that Branco has his law firm in his mother’s apartment in a chic neighborhood of Paris, overburdened her with work in comparison to her work contract that she had to write herself, had her to meet with clients even though she never studied law, was reluctant to pay her at all and used a series of humiliating techniques when she wanted to leave and afterwards when she wanted to obtain the documents she was legally entitled to receive from him. She stated: "He presents himself as the defender of the widow and the orphan, but behind the scenes he exploits his employees. He has no limits." Branco tried to have her sued for "blackmail", accusing her to threaten him to share confidential documents, but the public attorney dismissed the case. ] commented: "A method typical of the lawyer's stunts: attacking first on social networks, the better to claim the lead in the story and pose as the atoning victim of imagined enemies." According to the former employee, Branco was often paranoid, like when in the morning he would announce that foreign intelligence services broke into his apartment to access his computers during the night. The Commission on harassment and discrimination of the Paris Bar Council will additionally make a disciplinary decision on this matter. Branco stated that the two interns at the firm during the same period have stated in writing that their working conditions were normal, which Liberation verified to be true.<ref>https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/au-cabinet-de-juan-branco-il-se-presente-en-defenseur-de-la-veuve-et-de-lorphelin-mais-derriere-il-exploite-ses-employes-20230712_QMON3PN7PFGGFO7P5CCETPEHKU/</ref>
=== Proposal to defend Salah Abdeslam ===
On 22 February 2020, ] revealed that in an October 2016 letter to the ], Branco had proposed to ], one of the terrorists responsible for the ], to "dismiss legal advisors" and made suggestions for his defence strategy.<ref name="Abdeslam2">{{cite web |date=22 February 2020 |title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam |url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341 |access-date=22 February 2020 |website=valeursactuelles.com |publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 February 2020 |title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller |url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425 |access-date=23 February 2020 |website=rtl.fr |publication-date=}}.</ref> Branco claimed to have written the letter because he wanted to "allow those who cannot defend themselves to defend themselves".<ref name=":242">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=#VraiOuFake Juan Branco a-t-il vraiment écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam ? |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/faits-divers/terrorisme/attaques-du-13-novembre-a-paris/enquete-sur-les-attentats-de-paris/permettre-a-ceux-qui-ne-sont-pas-defendables-d-etre-defendus-l-avocat-juan-branco-assume-d-avoir-propose-de-defendre-salah-abdeslam_3839443.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":252">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat |url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.marianne.net |language=fr}}</ref> However, ], the terrorist's first French lawyer, denounced an "illegal exercise of the profession".<ref name=":252" /> In fact, when Branco contacted Salah Abdeslam, he was not yet a lawyer. Branco explained that in October 2016, he "had just got his lawyer certificate" and "could be sworn in and become a lawyer in a heartbeat if had wanted to."<ref name=":252" /><ref name=":242" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=Branco confirme avoir écrit à Abdeslam en 2016 pour lui proposer de le défendre |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/societe/justice/branco-confirme-avoir-ecrit-a-abdeslam-en-2016-pour-lui-proposer-de-le-defendre_2119194.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=L'Express |language=fr}}</ref>


In July 2023, the French government sued Juan Branco for putting in life danger French civil servants in Senegal. In the wake of the turmoil in ] around the politician ], Branco had accused two French civil servants of ], mentioning them by name, before disclosing the personal details of one of them, such as his telephone number or personnel number. Juan Branco also named five other agents in his complaint.<ref>https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848</ref>
=== Ongoing justice investigation for rape ===
On 29 April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of having abused her after they had taken a drug together.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 May 2021 |title="J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol |newspaper=ladepeche.fr |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/05/02/enquete-pour-viol-contre-lavocat-juan-branco-son-accusatrice-revient-sur-les-faits-9521758.php}}</ref> Branco claimed the relation had been consensual.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 April 2021 |title=L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/04/30/l-avocat-juan-branco-vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol_6078680_3224.html |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> He also showed journalists a conversation in which the young woman assured him that she would withdraw her accusation on the following monday,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=à 20h03 |first1=Par Jean-Michel Décugis et Vincent Gautronneau Le 1 mai 2021 |last2=À 20h02 |first2=Modifié Le 1 Mai 2021 |date=2021-05-01 |title=Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco souhaite être rapidement entendu |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol-lavocat-juan-branco-souhaite-etre-rapidement-entendu-01-05-2021-TUTZJRGPOJH47OCOXETZM6HMCU.php |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref> but she did not withdraw.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Décugis |first1=Jean-Michel |date=June 2021 |title=Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/vise-par-une-enquete-pour-viol-lavocat-juan-branco-place-en-garde-a-vue-01-06-2021-EGEJ347CFZBKRCXVOID5IQJBPU.php |access-date=1 June 2021 |website=Le Parisien}}</ref> Branco was placed under criminal investigation for rape in November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 November 2021 |title=Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol |newspaper=lepoint.fr |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/info-le-point-juan-branco-mis-en-examen-pour-viol-24-11-2021-2453599_23.php}}</ref>


== Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages ==
=== Disclosure of Pfizer contract terms ===
Juan Branco has been editing his own ] pages for many years, attempting to embellish his biography. He makes his edits under multiple identities, using what are known as ]. He has also edited articles of others to "settle accounts" by portraying them in a negative light.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/sur-wikipedia-les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco-20200221 |title = Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco|date = 21 February 2020}}</ref>
In September 2021, Branco revealed the existence of clauses in ]'s vaccine contracts that protect the US pharmaceutical company from legal action in the event of serious ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Busby |first1=Mattha |last2=Milhorance |first2=Flávia |date=2021-09-10 |title=Pfizer accused of holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract demands |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/10/pfizer-accused-of-holding-brazil-to-ransom-over-vaccine-contract-demands |access-date=2023-06-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pfizer is holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract: Reports |url=https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-is-holding-brazil-to-ransom-over-vaccine-contract-reports-412122 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=WION |language=en-us}}</ref> He posted a confidential contract between ] and Pfizer on Twitter, which also revealed that Brazil elicited much cheaper jabs from Pfizer than the European Union, at about $10. Branco said that since the production cost of a Pfizer vaccine is believed to be a maximum of $2 (£1.50), the legitimacy of the profits should be questioned. “This debate can’t happen if the public and the citizens are kept out of the loop,” he added.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last1=Busby |first1=Mattha |last2=Milhorance |first2=Flávia |date=2021-09-10 |title=Pfizer accused of holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract demands |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/10/pfizer-accused-of-holding-brazil-to-ransom-over-vaccine-contract-demands |access-date=2023-06-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The contract was initially leaked in April on the Brazilian health ministry website, but was removed soon after and went largely unnoticed outside Brazil until the information was tweeted by Branco.<ref name=":9" />


He once wrote a threatening letter to the employer of another Misplaced Pages editor, pretending to be a "Misplaced Pages administrator" named "Addas Karadas" and threatening legal action.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637| title= Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref>
== Publications ==


== Bibliography ==
* ''Réponses à Hadopi'' (Paris, Capricci, 2011, {{ISBN|978-2918040255}})<ref></ref> * ''Réponses à Hadopi'' (Paris, Capricci, 2011, {{ISBN|978-2918040255}})<ref></ref>
* ''De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global: Un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale'' (Paris, 2015, LGDJ-IUV, 2015, {{ISBN|978-2370320582}})<ref></ref> * ''De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global: Un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale'' (Paris, 2015, LGDJ-IUV, 2015, {{ISBN|978-2370320582}})<ref></ref>
* ''L'ordre et le monde'' (Paris, Fayard, 2016, {{ISBN|978-2213680880}}), edited by ] and ]<ref></ref> * ''L'ordre et le monde'' (Paris, Fayard, 2016, {{ISBN|978-2213680880}}), edited by ] and ]<ref></ref>
* ''D'après une image de Daesh'' (Paris, Lignes, 2017, {{ISBN|978-2-35526-164-0}})<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title=Editorial description |url=https://www.editions-lignes.com/D-APRES-UNE-IMAGE-DE-DAESH.html}}</ref> * ''D'après une image de Daesh'' (Paris, Lignes, 2017, {{ISBN|978-2-35526-164-0}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.editions-lignes.com/D-APRES-UNE-IMAGE-DE-DAESH.html|title=Editorial description|date=2020-02-25}}</ref>
* ''Contre Macron'' (Edition Divergence, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1097088125}}) *''Contre Macron'' (Edition Divergence, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1097088125}})
* '']'' (Paris, Au Diable Vauvert, 2019, {{ISBN|979-1030702606}}) * ''Crépuscule'' (Paris, Au Diable Vauvert, 2019) {{ISBN|979-1030702606}}
* ''Assange, l'antisouverain'' (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2020, {{ISBN|978-2204133074}}) * ''Assange, l'antisouverain'' (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2020) {{ISBN|978-2204133074}}
* ''La République ne vous appartient pas : Discours à polytechnique'', (Paris, Au diable vauvert, 2020, 110 <abbr>p.,</abbr> {{ISBN|979-10-307-0379-5}})
* ''Abattre l'ennemi'' (Éditions Michel Lafon, 2021, {{ISBN|978-2-7499-4697-9}})
* ''Treize pillards (''Au diable vauvert, 2022, 112 <abbr>p.,</abbr> {{ISBN|979-1030705072}})
* ''Luttes'' (Michel Lafon, 2022, {{Isbn|978-2749949550}})
* ''Coup d'état'' (Au diable vauvert, 2023, {{ISBN|979-10-307-0625-3}})
* ''Hanouna'' (Au diable vauvert, 2023, {{ISBN|979-1030706246}})


== References == == References ==

Revision as of 23:14, 14 July 2023

French-Spanish political activist, writer and lawyer
Juan Branco
Juan Branco in 2019
Born1989
Estepona, Andalusia,
Spain
NationalityFrench, Spanish
EducationÉcole normale supérieure (Paris)
OccupationLawyer
Parents

Juan Branco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko], French: [bʁɑ̃ko], Portuguese: [ˈbɾɐ̃ko]) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer.

He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book Crépuscule, critical of French President Emmanuel Macron, and in early 2020, with his involvement in the Griveaux affair. He has been a supporter of the Yellow vests movement.

Early life and education

Branco was born in 1989 in Estepona, near Málaga. He is the son of film producer Paulo Branco.

He went to the École alsacienne, an elite private high school in Paris. He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like Catherine Deneuve.

He studied as undergraduate at Sciences Po and as graduate and PhD student at the École normale supérieure, where he was admitted without passing the entrance exam.

In 2013, he assisted to a horse race in the desert at the invite of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.

He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.

Political activity

As a student, Branco actively supported former right-wing Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a friend of his mother's.

Afterwards he supported The Greens (France) and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President François Hollande (Socialist Party). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election.

Branco then joined the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise. He stood in the 2017 French legislative election for Seine-Saint-Denis's 12th constituency where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss". After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of La France Insoumise in the 2019 European Parliament election in France his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.

He became a vocal supporter of the Yellow vests movement, some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle, and a critic of President of France Emmanuel Macron thereafter.

In 2018 he outed the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Twitter.

Crépuscule

Branco's book Crépuscule, in which he criticized the French president Emmanuel Macron, was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.

Legal advice and representations

He was in 2015 the legal advisor by WikiLeaks and met with Julian Assange, trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.

Branco passed the bar in 2017, and, in 2019, have had 3 clients in two years, including his father, and was receiving welfare assistance (Revenu de solidarité active) during that time.

He has represented his father Paulo Branco and won his case against Terry Gilliam in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote case.

In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the Mila affair cyberbullying case.

Griveaux affair

In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist Petr Pavlensky both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting Benjamin Griveaux, then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Juan Branco was himself involved in the leak, a criminal offense under French law. This was denied by Branco.

Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.

After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance". Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more. Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".

In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings are being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.

Controversial claims

Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She describes him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful", as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".

In 2016 he solicited Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the group directly involved in the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015 (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing Julian Assange. As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.

In 2018, L'Express stated that Branco is making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told L'Express that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school do. He also claimed "never having created a Skyblog", but L'Express provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").

Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Asked for a clarification by the French journal GQ France, the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".

In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of Bangui - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country. He had been tasked as an independent expert for the United Nations with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.

Personal legal cases

In April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of abusing her. She declared to the police she had felt threatened and coerced by Branco into a sexual relation while she was under the influence of a drug they had taken together. Branco claimed the relation was consensual. He has been put under official criminal investigation on the count of rape in November 2021.

In 2023, a former employee of Branco sued him for moral harassment and infringement of French labor law. She revealed that Branco has his law firm in his mother’s apartment in a chic neighborhood of Paris, overburdened her with work in comparison to her work contract that she had to write herself, had her to meet with clients even though she never studied law, was reluctant to pay her at all and used a series of humiliating techniques when she wanted to leave and afterwards when she wanted to obtain the documents she was legally entitled to receive from him. She stated: "He presents himself as the defender of the widow and the orphan, but behind the scenes he exploits his employees. He has no limits." Branco tried to have her sued for "blackmail", accusing her to threaten him to share confidential documents, but the public attorney dismissed the case. Liberation commented: "A method typical of the lawyer's stunts: attacking first on social networks, the better to claim the lead in the story and pose as the atoning victim of imagined enemies." According to the former employee, Branco was often paranoid, like when in the morning he would announce that foreign intelligence services broke into his apartment to access his computers during the night. The Commission on harassment and discrimination of the Paris Bar Council will additionally make a disciplinary decision on this matter. Branco stated that the two interns at the firm during the same period have stated in writing that their working conditions were normal, which Liberation verified to be true.

In July 2023, the French government sued Juan Branco for putting in life danger French civil servants in Senegal. In the wake of the turmoil in Senegal around the politician Ousmane Sonko, Branco had accused two French civil servants of crime against humanity, mentioning them by name, before disclosing the personal details of one of them, such as his telephone number or personnel number. Juan Branco also named five other agents in his complaint.

Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages

Juan Branco has been editing his own Misplaced Pages pages for many years, attempting to embellish his biography. He makes his edits under multiple identities, using what are known as sockpuppets. He has also edited articles of others to "settle accounts" by portraying them in a negative light.

He once wrote a threatening letter to the employer of another Misplaced Pages editor, pretending to be a "Misplaced Pages administrator" named "Addas Karadas" and threatening legal action.

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie". 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule" (in French). 18 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  3. ^ Tabet (March 2020). "Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco". Le Parisien (in French) (23487): 20–23.
  4. "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". 7 May 2019.
  5. "Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain". 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?" (in French). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  7. "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue" (in French). Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  8. "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". Franceinfo (in French). 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-06-30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels" (in French). 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  10. "Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune".
  11. ""Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco". 11 May 2019.
  12. ""Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"". 26 April 2019.
  13. ""Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis". 6 June 2019.
  14. "Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco". 25 April 2019.
  15. "Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?". Le Temps. 17 April 2019.
  16. 2015 NSA Espionnage revelations
  17. ^ "Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco". 17 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco". 29 April 2019.
  19. "Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'". Screen. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  20. "France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam". Associated Press. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  21. "Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco". lepoint.fr (in French). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  22. "France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  23. "Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris". 29 February 2020.
  24. "Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski". lepoint.fr (in French). 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  25. "Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux". LExpress.fr (in French). 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  26. "Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco". LePoint.fr (in French). 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  27. "L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco". nouvelobs.com (in French). 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  28. "Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam". valeursactuelles.com. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020..
  29. "Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller". rtl.fr. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020..
  30. ""C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat". marianne.net. 25 February 2020..
  31. "Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?". GQ (in French) (French ed.). 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21.
  32. Ross, Aaron (May 31, 2018). "U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre". Reuters.
  33. Kouassi, Carole (31 May 2018). "Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes". fr.africanews.com (in French).
  34. ""J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol". ladepeche.fr. 2 May 2021.
  35. "L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol". Le Monde.fr. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  36. Décugis, Jean-Michel (June 2021). "Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue". Le Parisien. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  37. "Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol". lepoint.fr. 24 November 2021.
  38. https://www.liberation.fr/societe/police-justice/au-cabinet-de-juan-branco-il-se-presente-en-defenseur-de-la-veuve-et-de-lorphelin-mais-derriere-il-exploite-ses-employes-20230712_QMON3PN7PFGGFO7P5CCETPEHKU/
  39. https://www.europe1.fr/politique/info-europe-1-le-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-porte-plainte-contre-juan-branco-4193848
  40. "Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco". 21 February 2020.
  41. "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue".
  42. Library of the Congress
  43. BNF reference
  44. Editorial description of L'ordre et le monde
  45. "Editorial description". 2020-02-25.
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