Macron’s Marvelous Moroccan Delegation: Where Comedy Meets Controversy
Ah, France! The land of croissants, fine wine, and an eclectic mix of personalities traversing the world stage like a wobbly juggler at a circus. This time, we find ourselves amidst the bright lights of Rabat, where President Emmanuel Macron has brought along a merry band of 130-some individuals on a state visit to Morocco. And among these lucky souls? The one and only controversial comedian, Yassine Belattar.
Who is Yassine Belattar?
Belattar, a Franco-Moroccan comic known for his sharp tongue and sharper controversies, apparently doesn’t just tell jokes—he also courts drama like it’s going out of style. Convicted of death threats and aligned with various contentious entities, he has become the darling target of right-wing commentators. In a time when political and social sensitivities are at their peak, having him in Macron’s entourage feels like throwing a lit match into a box of fireworks.
You’ve got to love the political acrobatics here! Mr. Jordan Bardella, the president of the National Rally, lit up social networks faster than a French café runs out of espresso, chastising Macron for having “this so-called comedian” on his trip. What’s next—a mime gallery at the Louvre to explain France’s foreign policy?
Remarks from the Right
And let’s not forget the delightful comment from Marion Maréchal, who bemoaned Belattar’s presence in a tracksuit, suggesting it’s “shameful” for the French delegation visiting friendly Morocco. Impressive! Only in France could a tracksuit incite political fury! Perhaps she expected everyone to be dressed as aristocrats of the old regime? Mon dieu!
A Topsy-Turvy Delegation
Now, Macron’s team argues that having Yassine in tow is simply about embracing “Franco-Moroccan personalities.” A stunningly diplomatic way of sounding like, “We’re just keeping our friends close.” It’s a bit like saying, “Don’t mind the clown; he’s just here for the balloon animals.” But the reality is, his presence surely raises eyebrows and questions, especially considering France’s long-standing struggle with anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, which makes this state visit as complex as a Jacques Derrida essay.
A Comedy of Errors?
Speaking of errors, let’s have a laugh or two about Belattar’s *other* encounters with controversy. Just last November, he had a tête-à-tête with Macron’s advisors following the Hamas attacks in Israel—not exactly the best time for a punchline! But hey, if you’re working on the Presidential Council of Cities, I suppose there are worse places to hang around than political meetings—you know, like a haunted house or a Doha karaoke bar.
Mix and Mingle: Notable Delegates
This delegation is a smorgasbord of oddballs and enigmas. Next to the `humorist` is Bernard-Henri Lévy, a man so committed to his ideals that he could probably give a TED talk on “Fighting for Causes while Wearing Stylish Scarves.” Add in François-Marie Banier, the photographer who took “abuse of weakness” to a whole new level, and it becomes clear that authenticity may not be the goal of this trip. It’s almost as if Macron decided on the roulette wheel method of delegation selection—let’s just throw a lot of names out and see how many heads turn!
Final Thoughts: A Difficult Balancing Act
Ultimately, with leaders trying to traverse the minefield of international diplomacy, having a comedic figure like Belattar is a bold move—a bit like wearing stilettos on a cobbled street! The question remains: will this decision bring laughter, or will it lead to more serious rifts in an already fractured political landscape? Only time will tell. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get a Netflix special out of it, “Macron Takes Morocco: A Stand-Up Deconstruction.”
So grab your popcorn, dear readers; this show is just getting started!
Controversial comedian Yassine Belattar is among some 130 people accompanying Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Morocco.
Emmanuel Macron is accompanied to Morocco by a delegation as large as it is eclectic of more than 130 people from the political, economic or cultural world, some of whom have created controversy like the controversial comedian Yassine Belattar.
He was notably present Monday evening at the welcoming ceremony of the Head of State, in Rabat, in the presence of King Mohammed VI, at the start of a three-day state visit. His name was added late Monday to an updated list of the delegation distributed by the Elysée.
This forty-year-old Franco-Moroccan has been the long-time target of the right and the far right who accuse him of being close to Islamism.
“How can this so-called comedian, convicted of death threats, close to the anti-Semites of the CCIF (Collective against Islamophobia in France), be present on a trip of this importance in the company of the President of the Republic? It is also disrespectful for France than for Morocco”, reacted on the social network X the president of the National Rally Jordan Bardella.
His ally Marion Maréchal also affirmed that his presence, “and in a tracksuit”, was “shameful to the French delegation visiting the friendly country of Morocco”.
The president’s entourage argued that he was a “Franco-Moroccan personality” and assured that his presence in the delegation was “in no way an endorsement of his ideas.”
Already a controversy a year ago
A controversy had already arisen in November 2023 when Yassine Belattar was received by Emmanuel Macron’s advisors, after the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Israel and shortly before the great march against anti-Semitism in France at which the head of state had decided not to participate.
Yassine Belattar’s speeches on the suburbs earned him the attention of Emmanuel Macron, who appointed him in 2018 to the Presidential Council of Cities, intended to fuel the executive’s thinking on priority neighborhoods.
The comedian was sentenced in September 2023 to four months in prison for threats of death and crime targeting several personalities from the entertainment world.
In addition to ten ministers, including that of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, classified very right-wing, the delegation includes numerous business owners, who signed several contracts on Monday evening.
The cultural aspect is also very extensive. Next to Yassine Belattar is the intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy, very committed to Israel, particularly since October 7, 2023.
But also the photographer François-Marie Banier, sentenced on appeal in 2016 to four years in prison for abuse of weakness against the billionaire Liliane Bettencourt.
The delegation also includes the former Macronist MP M’jid El Guerrab, sentenced on appeal in 2023 to one year in prison and two years of ineligibility for having attacked the former socialist leader Boris Faure in 2017.
Historical traveling companions of the Head of State, such as Jean-Marc Borello, founder of the SOS associative group, or the former banker Christian Dargnat, architect of fundraising for the 2017 and 2022 presidential campaigns, are also on the trip .
