You appear to be in error:
If the French can do it, we can do it too.
They can obtain public office even without running for it: Cardinal Richelieu = He was consecrated bishop on 17 April, 1607; Richelieu was named secretary of state on 30 November, 1616- 3 November, 1622, he was created cardinal by Gregory XV. On 19 April, 1624, he re-entered the Council of Ministers, and on 12 August, 1624, was made its president.
BTW, during the depression, my pastor was elected president of the local bank by the depositors and the bank board because he was trustworthy & knew how to handle money. The bank was the only one solvent in the county during the whole depression. YUP
Can. 285 §1. Clerics are to refrain completely from all those things which are unbecoming to their state, according to the prescripts of particular law.
§2. Clerics are to avoid those things which, although not unbecoming, are nevertheless foreign to the clerical state.
§3. Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power.
Can. 287 §1. Most especially, clerics are always to foster the peace and harmony based on justice which are to be observed among people.
§2. They are not to have an active part in political parties and in governing labor unions unless, in the judgment of competent ecclesiastical authority, the protection of the rights of the Church or the promotion of the common good requires it.