Political cannibalism: from Bokassa to Sánchez
The cannibalism metaphor has become the political insult of the moment. An anonymous exchange proves it: from Bokassa to Sánchez, voracity as…
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Political cannibalism: from Bokassa to Sánchez
In the middle of a political crisis, the metaphor most used to discredit a leader is not corruption but cannibalism. The reference to the Central African dictator Jean-Bédel Bokassa, accused of having eaten human flesh, has become a recurring insult. This week, an anonymous individual claiming to have tasted human flesh and offering to answer questions served as an excuse to take swipes at Pedro Sánchez, Feijóo and Abascal.
The most talked-about reply alludes to the prime minister's trembling hands, a reference to his health, and asks when he will "pull a Bokassa" on his rivals, capping it off with "Armongola", a wordplay mixing the opposition with the Asian country. The irony is no accident: cannibalism is used as a metaphor for political voracity, for devouring one's adversary. At its core, the joke reveals the weariness with a political class seen as predatory.
Meanwhile, the exchange includes crude comments that add nothing to the analysis. But the question remains: is cannibalism the definitive metaphor of Spanish politics, or just another device of a citizenry that no longer knows how to express its discontent?
In the middle of a political crisis, the metaphor most used to discredit a leader is not corruption but cannibalism. The reference to the Central African dictator Jean-Bédel Bokassa, accused of having eaten human flesh, has become a recurring insult. This week, an anonymous individual claiming to have tasted human flesh and offering to answer questions served as an excuse to take swipes at Pedro Sánchez, Feijóo and Abascal.
The most talked-about reply alludes to the prime minister's trembling hands, a reference to his health, and asks when he will "pull a Bokassa" on his rivals, capping it off with "Armongola", a wordplay mixing the opposition with the Asian country. The irony is no accident: cannibalism is used as a metaphor for political voracity, for devouring one's adversary. At its core, the joke reveals the weariness with a political class seen as predatory.
Meanwhile, the exchange includes crude comments that add nothing to the analysis. But the question remains: is cannibalism the definitive metaphor of Spanish politics, or just another device of a citizenry that no longer knows how to express its discontent?
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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