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WORLD NEWS Monday 31 January 2022
Boris Johnson’s mounting trouble is treasure for satirists

Associated Press lite term I should use. Every
(AP) — A politician’s trou- week something happens
bles are a humorist’s trea- with Boris. No cartoonist is
sures. going to die poor thanks to
The scandal-prone British the antics of Boris Johnson.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson This, after all, is the erratic
has given cartoonists and politician who once mused
meme-makers unimagi- about being “reincarnat-
nable riches for years, and ed as an olive,” who has
with his hold on power now offended everyone from
in jeopardy, their fortunes the people of Papua New
are only growing. Guinea to the citizens of
Johnson and his staff are Liverpool and who once
facing civil and criminal got stuck midair on a zipline
investigations into social while waving two Union
gatherings they hosted last Jacks.
year while the rest of the Rowson says Johnson’s
U.K. was hunkering down cartoonish persona is de-
under coronavirus restric- liberately crafted. He’s the
tions. The episode raises se- latest in a long line of politi-
rious questions about John- cians who have “played to
son’s leadership and politi- being caricatures” to keep
cal accountability. themselves in the public
But what gives it extra bite Martin Rowson shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson cartoons as he poses for a photogra- eye.
— and gives humorists pher in his studio in London, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) “Even though we ridicule
much to chew on — are them at the same time, it’s
the often ludicrous details: cartoonist for The Guardian ciousness — that shocked hair, rumpled clothes and a price worth paying for
political aides hauling suit- newspaper, says mockery many European visitors. blustering manner. them,” Rowson said.
cases of wine into the prime is one of the trade-offs in British TV shows like “Spit- Steve Marchant, learning Even so, not all publicity is
minister’s residence, or democratic societies be- ting Image,” with its latex coordinator at the Cartoon good news for politicians.
drunkenly breaking a swing tween government and puppet politicians, carried Museum in London, says Much of the humor around
set belonging to Johnson’s governed: “They have on the tradition in the late they needn’t have worried: “partygate” has an under-
toddler son. power and we have the 20th century. These days, Johnson is a gift for humor- current of anger. One of
One recent newspaper right to laugh at them.” internet videos and memes ists. Rowson’s recent cartoons
cartoon captured the col- Britain has a long and have joined the fun. “All you need to draw is an depicted Queen Elizabeth
lision of tragedy and farce proud tradition of political When Johnson became egg with some straw on top II wearing a gas mask to
by depicting Johnson as satire. In the 18th century, prime minister in 2019, some and you’ve got Boris be- protect herself from the rot-
the betrayed Roman ruler cartoonists such as James feared he would be hard fore you even attempt to ten smell of Johnson and his
Julius Caesar, stabbed in Gillray lampooned British to satirize because he was draw the face,” Marchant Conservative government
the back with corkscrews. politicians and royalty with already a cartoonish figure, said. “And he is so — gaffe- floundering in a swamp be-
Martin Rowson, a political an irreverence — even vi- with his thatch of blonde prone is probably the po- hind her. q

French left is divided, weakened in presidential race

By Sylvie Corbet they wouldn’t respect the firebrand with a notorious
Associated Press outcome because they temper — refuses to form
(AP) — The French left is don’t respect the process. a united front with other
running divided and weak- At least five main candi- left-wing candidates. The
ened in this year’s presi- dates ranging from left- 70-year-old politician, who
dential race as at least five wing to the far-left are run- heads the “Rebel France”
mainstream presidential ning for president, in addi- party, has promised to
candidates have rejected tion to lesser-known con- guarantee jobs for every-
any alliances with each tenders. At the moment, one, raise the minimum
other — and an online vote none of them appears in a wage, lower the retirement
meant to pick a leader position to reach the two- age to 60 and hike taxes
Sunday appears doomed person runoff in April’s elec- on multinationals and rich
to fail. tion. households.
The so-called Popular Pri- Centrist President Emman- The Greens’ contender,
mary has been organized uel Macron, who doesn’t Yannick Jadot, 54, and the
by left-wing supporters to hide his intention to run for Socialist candidate, Paris French Green Party presidential candidate for the 2022 election
Yannick Jadot gestures as he speaks during a media confer-
unite their ranks before reelection, is considered Mayor Anne Hidalgo, 62, ence tin Paris, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. The first round of the 2022
France’s presidential elec- the front-runner. Conser- have also rejected the idea French presidential election will be held on April 10, 2022 and
tion is held in two rounds on vative candidate Valérie of running together despite the second round on April 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
April 10 and 24. Pécresse and two far-right a traditional alliance be-
More than 460,000 people figures, Marine le Pen and tween their parties. Another once-powerful party re- ity ratings.
registered for the primary. Eric Zemmour, are the main candidate, Fabien Roussel, mains weakened after Ma- Jadot unveiled his electoral
Results of the four-day on- challengers according to 52, is running for the Com- cron’s win in 2017 — when platform Saturday during
line vote are expected Sun- polls, placing far-left candi- munist Party. Socialist President Francois a rally in Lyon, saying that
day evening. But the move date Jean-Luc Melenchon Hidalgo’s campaign has so Hollande decided not to climate change is the “big-
already appears bound in fifth position. far failed to prompt enthu- run for reelection amid un- gest challenge” that voters
to fail: key contenders say Melenchon — a political siasm from leftist voters. Her precedented low popular- and politicians face.q