It's a "rather unexpected" approach, as the candidate herself puts it. Aurore Galves-Orjol claims to be the only person in France to have a project revolving around cryptocurrency. Because bitcoin, the virtual currency created in 2008 at the time of the global financial crisis, is political: "It's a theme that touches on the economy, money, social innovation and the ecological transition", according to the 33-year-old candidate, an entrepreneur and business school teacher in Lyon. With no political label or party, she is keen to put the issue to the fore in order to "return monetary sovereignty" to its users, since bitcoin is neither managed by the central bank nor by governments.
This candidate, who has no staff, will not be printing ballot papers, for example, and will be running a low-key campaign. Her sole objective is to "get people talking about cryptocurrencies".
Aurore Galves-Orjol believes that Bitcoin can play a crucial role in the ecological transition. She explains: "Crypto-currencies use technologies that, while consuming energy, drive innovation in renewable energy and sustainable practices." She proposes measures to encourage the use of green energy in the mining of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general.
The candidate also highlights the monetary sovereignty that bitcoin enables. "By using bitcoin, we can reduce our dependence on central banks and state monetary policies, which is a step towards true financial autonomy", she asserts. She envisages solutions for gradually integrating Bitcoin into the local and national economy.
Without massive funding or support from major parties, Aurore Galves-Orjol is opting for a sober campaign. She is focusing on digital and social networks to reach voters and raise awareness of cryptocurrencies. "My aim is not just to be elected, but to ensure that these subjects are discussed and taken seriously," she says.
Aurore Galves-Orjol's candidacy is a strong symbol of the evolution of political debates towards modern and innovative issues such as cryptocurrencies. By using Bitcoin as her standard, she hopes to spark discussions on monetary sovereignty, the digital economy and the ecological transition.
