Macron likes to see himself as a decisive and dynamic leader. He now shows himself combative with boxing pictures. Some experts believe the message is aimed at someone specific.
The face is distorted with strain, the right hook on the punching bag: French President Emmanuel Macron has put himself in a combative mood with boxing pictures. The scene was published by the head of state’s official photographer, Soazig de la Moissonnière, on Instagram.
It has long been known that the French president is a boxing enthusiast. He recently appeared in a jersey and with boxing gloves over his shoulder to encourage his compatriots to exercise regularly. A few months ago, his wife Brigitte also revealed to the magazine “Paris Match” that the centrist politician does boxing training twice a week.
The combative photos suit Macron, who likes to see himself as a determined and dynamic leader. But communication strategists see more in the images. “The message is directed at Putin,” says expert Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet in the newspaper Le Parisien. Macron shows that he is ready to fight.
Message to Moscow?
Sports images of presidents are usually not so aggressive. But these photos were taken on purpose to show that you were in a battle. According to Moreau-Chevrolet, with the boxing pictures, Macron is literally recreating photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has already been photographed in a number of sports. They are virtually opposite each other and that shows a very special climate.
Even if Macron’s strategy is to give a supposed insight into his private life, the expert says of the box photos: “This is more of a communication aesthetic of – let’s say – authoritarian regimes.”
Political communication expert Émilie Zapalski also sees the photos as a message to Moscow. Because words weren’t enough, pictures were needed, she analyzed on the France Info channel. For Macron, it’s a kind of game: “He’s playing soldier. He’s playing to show Putin his muscles.” But that is a very rough message because of the war context and mutual outdoing.
While there was some talk on Twitter about an alleged Putinization of Macron and the images were dismissed as absurd, there was one topic of particular interest online: Macron’s muscles.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
