Life-size Macron puppet at La France Insoumise events and the payasou tradition

Concerning the puppet that portrays our charming Macron in decidedly uncomplimentary fashion at opposition demonstrations: a number of critical pieces have already appeared in the Western media, among them the claim that it is an antisemitic image.

For those not versed in French political realities, let me clarify: firstly, this is not a new puppet; supporters of La France Insoumise have been hauling it about to all manner of public events since 2018.

Secondly, I state with full responsibility that this life-size caricature of Macron belongs to an old French tradition. The tradition is called pailhasou and has nothing to do with politics. The term pailhasou is linked to a folk character of the South of France, the name of one of the three chief figures of the carnival in Nice, embodied in just such a straw puppet bouncing on a sheet, and it goes back historically to old religious festivals.

It is as though an effigy of Maslenitsa, a figure of Kostroma, Marena or Yarilo in the guise of some serving politician were to appear at rallies in Russia