Throwback to a snapshot of Newport. A reality different from appearance
(BRUSSELS2) The "famous" photo taken at the NATO summit in Newport (Wales) where François Hollande looks up in the air in a different direction than his counterparts at the parade of fighter planes, is a snapshot that does not reflect not really the whole reality.
A certain lack of objectivity
This official photo - released by NATO - was quickly commented on and decried as the illustration of a French president on the sidelines of the ceremony. For those who have carefully followed the retransmission of this "staging" (*), this does not quite correspond to reality. And drawing a political lesson from it is risky or partisan and stems from a certain lack of objectivity (or even patent bad faith).
(*) This representation of the various heads of state and government was, in fact, above all, a political staging, intended to illustrate the unity of the allies as well as their confidence in the military tool, at a time when the Russia makes shows of force.
A Franco-German couple in deep discussion
In fact, there was not one political personality on the sidelines but two. Angela Merkel and François Hollande arrived in the area reserved for leaders, discussing together. A soliloquy, begun before, and which lasted almost throughout the presentation. The Franco-German "couple" distinguishing themselves somewhat from the other heads of government, quite ostensibly disinterested in the other guests.
The two leaders seemed to pay very little attention to the flypast, or even to their neighbours, apart from a few tens of seconds. To this Franco-German duo, the Italian Matteo Renzi joined for a while. But, quickly, let the "couple" settle their debate.
The contrast was striking with the other interlocutors who obviously talked about the rain and the good weather among themselves and looked at the planes like happy children.
You can even find an identical photo of Angela Merkel, who looks just as inattentive and stares ahead of her, the lens, while all the other leaders are, noses in the air, in another direction, watching the aerial parade. .
In fact, it is enough to choose the moment and the photo to justify its point, even if this one is largely erroneous. The photo and its comment not then serving to reveal or illustrate an attitude but to justify an ideological, partisan point of view. They are not information but propaganda.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
NB: Photo selection made by B2 from the video streamed by NATO
