Politics equals manipulation

In the end, politics is about the manipulation of impetuous passion for the sake of power and control. It is a tough act and not a very transparent or clean one.

Remain focused and patient

No problem, I thought, if one keeps repeating the same key messages over and over because in any case most people are not in a listening mood. The point is to repeat them with consistency, clarity and grace. 

In France the political establishment is too heavy

After some in-depth discussions in France, just a word to summarize so many opinions: concern. Indeed, France is not going in the right direction and her people are, in so many ways, very disappointed with the current situation and the lack of true reform of the state institutions. Or, the state takes a lot of resources and many of its institutions are just simple bureaucracy and jobs for the political animals that people the republic. 

The Berlaymont ghost

These days, there is a ghost walking the corridors of the Berlaymont building. People talk about him, give him a name, put a French accent in his voice, as they also put words and comments on his mouth, compare him with the present tenant, and feed the malaise.

The current tenant is the one that fears most this strange ghost. He gets very annoyed when he hears his name, and mad when people draw comparisons. He then asks his advisors to talk to the friendly media hacks. The point is to get a favourable press, to show that the ghost is from another time and circumstances. And that, in any case, when he was real, a few decades ago, he was no better then today's man.