Macron Goes for a Zelensky Makeover. And Embarasses Himself

Source: The Telegraph

Inappropriate lust for President Zelensky was already at epidemic levels last week. They say truth is the first casualty of war but, for newspaper columnists, it’s self-respect. You could hardly move for articles breathing heavily over Zelensky’s combat gear, his bravery, his leadership, all conveyed by a slick media operation.

Unsurprisingly this Zelensky-thirst has spread upwards from the general population, through the media and into the political class. One leader above all appears to be suffering from crippling Zelenskyitis. French president Emmanuel Macron has evidently been gazing on his Ukrainian counterpart’s impeccable media campaign with such envy that it clouds his judgment.

By the way, if you didn't know what #European concern looked like, Macron's photographer posted new photos pic.twitter.com/w88ClKyH9A

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 7, 2022

How else to explain the bizarre series of photoshoots emanating from the Élysée? Last week, after an unsuccessful phone call with Putin, we saw Macron, in a white shirt, in three poses of anguish: solely clutching the back of his chair in Versailles; pinching the bridge of his nose in anguish; hands knitted in pain in front of his face.

Macron decided to turn up to work in a pair of jeans and a French paratroopers hoodie to be more like Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/pYivvXwOga

— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) March 14, 2022

More photos emerged today. Over the weekend Mr Macron’s look has evolved from “corporate burnout” to “hacker luxe”. A faint barbe d’un jour has appeared on his usually hairless features. Was France importing all its razors from Russia? The white shirtsleeves have gone, replaced by a black French special forces hoodie and jeans, as if at any moment he might be called upon to hack a mainframe or launch a Molotov cocktail at a tank.

In one picture he clutches his documents, one eyebrow raised quizzically. In another he talks with purpose into his phone. In the most striking, he stands in his quite literally palatial office facing his advisers with both hands on hips, a stance known to cricketers as the “double-teapot”. Presumably the pose is designed to imply action and purpose, but the effect is closer to a paintball instructor admonishing a stag do for taking their goggles off again.

The problem for Mr Macron, as for other leaders, is that political photoshoots must match the weight of the real-world events. A bit of primping and presentation is forgivable, but the gravitas cannot be forced.

When Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and co were photographed looking serious as they watched the Bin Laden raid, it felt appropriate. Liz Truss in full getup on an aircraft carrier looks like your aunt won a competition. The fraudulence of staged pictures is starker when there is war going on.