French President Emmanuel Macron and Bad Boy Alexander Banalla

Details

Category: World News - Europe

Published on Friday, 04 January 2019 08:27

Written by Olivier Longhi

The Benalla affair, which has remained largely hidden, reveals a form of moral drift in our society with superficiality and a mediocrity becoming principles of operation also at the highest peak of the state. We will attempt to explain.

In the Benalla affair there is an embarrassing scent of amateurism, of those who ridicule a function and institutions just as venerable as those of the Fifth Republic. To believe that this man, about whom we have written a lot (here again ...!)

And many said, himself lending himself to the game of interview and hearing before the parliamentary committee to explain the facts and gestures that were his during the first of May. And now the man who was thought far from the corridors of power was betrayed by the use of a diplomatic passport used in private business in Africa. (Read the article in lemonde.fr:)

Beltway Insider: Trump/Government Shutdown, Border Wall, Syria; Gatwick Drones

It is to be believed that Alexander Benalla has become the evil genius of the presidency, the hidden face of a bustling campaign and a supreme accession to supreme power. that amazing. And what about the exercise of power as such by Emmanuel Macron who has been living for more than six months in fear of a rebound of the business, which has just arrived, and the fear of new frenzies of his former collaborator, let's call him that.

Shadow and Existence

How then to explain the Benalla case before coming to the actual case which remains rather banal? Between mediocrity and ambition, oversized ego and thirst for recognition, Alexandre Benalla interfered in the trajectory of comet Macron.

France Macron and France Yellow Vests

At first in tail, invisible and unknown, as can be those men who surround the media personalities, that we see without seeing, shadows that we forget even before having seen them, then in full light, one day in May 2018, wearing proudly and imply and abusively an armband of the National Police.

Today revealed, the possession of a diplomatic passport by Alexandre Benalla confirms a form of any power sought by this long-time transparent man but who knew how to take advantage of the moment Macron as rare before him knew how to make it to give meaning to his existence. (Read the article in figaro.fr:)

There is in this large-scale scheme a certain talent. Certainly we are not in the refined elegance of Arsene Lupine, (let us admit that the analogy is flattering and daring) but it borders on a real challenge. Yet, the man in question is it really the only responsible for this new business, just like the previous one?

Some would say yes and for good reason because he is supposed to be responsible for those acts. But beyond that, those who gave him their trust, left him the bridle on his neck and issued a diplomatic passport are just as responsible as him.

Hierarchy and Reality

And then there is also another culprit, invisible and pernicious, (and pernicious because invisible), which one will quickly describe as time. The one where republican meritocracy has given way to institutionalized mediocrity.

A Vest to Breathe Better

How then to explain that an Alexander Benalla, certainly helped by a complicit entourage, was able to rise to such a level if not responsibilities at least at such a level within the hierarchy Elysian to the point of being invested with representative diplomatic functions that suppose possession of such a passport?

For Alexandre Benalla is not Machiavelli and Emmanuel Macron is not Caesar Borgia (still happy by the way).

The British Misunderstanding

Thus, the Benalla affair must not overshadow another reality that also structures our society in part, that of a new facility generated by the cult of appearance and superficiality where the container has replaced the content, where the form has tamed the bottom, where the seduction of speech has replaced the meaning of words and actions.

This is also the Benalla affair.

Bio: Olivier Longhi has an extensive background in European History, a seasoned journalist with fifteen years’ experience, he is currently a professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held varies positions within the publishing field including head of agency and chief of publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, columnist and editorial project manager he has trained and directed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant and communication consultant.