Trendpills
In the charged atmosphere of French politics, throwing flour at public figures has become a recurring form of protest, blending humiliation with non-violent dissent. A notable example involved Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, who was pelted with flour at a Paris protest. The incident occurred just days after President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face, highlighting a period of heightened political tension.
However, this form of protest against political leaders has a clear precedent in France. Before his 2017 election, Macron himself was targeted with eggs on at least two occasions, while former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande have also been showered with flour during their terms. These acts serve as a pointed, visual statement of discontent during periods of political strain, such as the run-up to regional or presidential elections.
The act of covering a person in flour is so recognized as a protest tactic that it is commonly referred to as 'flour bombing.' Though generally considered a minor act of assault, it is often treated by authorities and the public as a symbolic gesture rather than a significant threat. Its history as a tool of dissent is not confined to France; one of the most famous instances occurred during the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour in New Zealand, where protestors in a light aircraft dropped flour bombs onto the pitch to disrupt the game.
In France, the use of flour as a protest symbol carries particular weight. It evokes deep historical resonances, harking back to a time when the availability and price of bread were matters of life and death. This symbolism connects modern acts of political theater to foundational social conflicts, such as the series of riots in 1775 known as the Flour War, which were triggered by the deregulation of the grain market. While today's flourings are not driven by starvation, they tap into a collective memory of popular rebellion against authority, making a simple bag of flour a potent, if messy, political weapon.
