Paris Street Legend, Newspaper Seller to Presidents, Awarded France’s Highest Honor
PARIS, FRANCE – August 12, 2025 – Ali Akbar, a fixture on the streets of Paris for over half a century, is set to receive one of France’s most prestigious awards after a personal letter from President Emmanuel Macron arrived at his doorstep. Akbar, who once sold newspapers to a young student Macron, will be decorated as a “Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite” (Knight of the National Order of Merit) next month.
The honor recognizes the 50+ years Akbar has spent walking the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés district on Paris’s Left Bank, becoming an iconic symbol of a vanishing trade and a beloved pillar of his community. President Macron specifically cited Akbar’s contribution to French culture.
From Dishwasher to Parisian Institution:
Akbar’s journey began far from the Parisian boulevards. Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, he immigrated to France by boat in his early twenties with a singular goal: to work and build a house for his mother. Starting as a dishwasher in Rouen, he eventually moved to Paris, gained residency, and found his calling after meeting a newspaper vendor. Inspired, he took to the streets, selling renowned publications like Le Monde and Charlie Hebdo.
In the pre-internet era, Akbar was part of a vibrant tribe of 40 or more walking and cycling vendors who brought the day’s news directly to Parisians. “When I started here in 1973, there were 35 or 40 traders in Paris,” Akbar recalled to local media.
The Last of His Kind:
Today, Ali Akbar stands alone – the last walking newspaper seller in Paris. The digital age has decimated his profession. “Now everything is digital. People want to look at their phones,” he observed, contrasting today’s struggles with the past: “In the days before the Internet, I would sell eighty copies of ‘Le Monde’ within an hour… Now I have to chase customers just to sell one copy.” His fellow vendors from the 1970s have all disappeared. “Now I am alone,” he stated simply.
Undimmed Spirit, Beloved Figure:
Despite the decline of his trade, Akbar’s spirit and love for his work remain untouched. “I’m a happy person. I’m free. In this job, I’m completely free. No one gives me orders. That’s why I do it,” he declared. This enduring dedication has made him a cherished figure in the cafe-lined 6th arrondissement. Locals speak of him with deep affection: “I first came here in the 1960s, I grew up with Ali. He’s like a brother,” shared one woman. “He knows everyone. He’s very funny,” added another.
The upcoming knighthood is a profound validation for the man whose footsteps have worn paths through Saint-Germain-des-Prés for generations. Ali Akbar is more than a vendor; he is a living archive of Parisian community life and a testament to enduring dedication, soon to be honored with the nation’s highest merit. President Macron will personally bestow the award next month.
Ali Akbar, 73, known as the last newspaper hawker in the French capital sells ‘Le Monde’ newspaper in the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France,