In the current context of socio-economic debates in France, the expression ‘It’s Nicolas who pays’ emerges as a symbol of the fiscal fatigue felt by many citizens. Popularized on social media, it illustrates the sentiment of an average French person, depicted as the caricatural Nicolas besieged by charges and taxes. This phenomenon has particularly been appropriated by hard-right and far-right currents that use it to bolster their discourses around taxation and social inequalities.
The roots of the expression ‘It’s Nicolas who pays’
At first glance, the expression ‘It’s Nicolas who pays’ may seem harmless. However, its usage reveals a deep critique of the existing tax and social systems. Nicolas, representing the average citizen, has become the face of a middle class that works hard, pays its taxes, and yet feels neglected by the State. This phrase symbolizes the frustration of a population that observes a growing disconnect between its contributions and the services it receives in return.
An emergence in the political debate
Recently, several political figures, including Gérault Verny, UDR deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône, have used this expression to loudly declare that every euro of public waste ultimately falls to this famous Nicolas. This rhetoric fits within a broader critique of state expenditures, exacerbating the feeling of fiscal injustice prevailing among certain French citizens. This statement is part of a populist discourse that seeks to rally the disgruntled around an emblematic figure, thus smoothing the ground for more extreme ideologies.
A meme in service of an ideology
The popularization of this phrase has been amplified by its dissemination on social media. In particular, a viral image of a young man in a tie, head in hands, has become a meme rich in meanings. This visual represents the anxiety of the French in the face of rising tax rates and the deterioration of public services. The Twitter account ‘Nicolas who pays’ has even emerged, accumulating over 34,000 followers, to denounce what it sees as a mismatch between tax burdens and the benefits received.
Social and identity critiques
However, the movement does not stop there. Supporters of the far right have integrated this figure of speech into a broader critical discourse. Among their concerns is the targeting of certain categories, such as retirees, which some tend to label with the pejorative term ‘boomers’. Similarly, they criticize social assistance, local subsidies, as well as initiatives such as the cultural pass. Their discourse sometimes glides towards identity issues, mentioning fears related to immigration and the distribution of social resources.
An international phenomenon
This movement is not confined to France, as a similar dynamic has recently taken shape in the United Kingdom. There, the character of Nicolas has transformed into Nick, illustrating a similar feeling of fatigue regarding fiscal and social questions. This shows that this phenomenon transcends borders, revealing a shared exasperation within different societies towards contemporary political systems.
