Boris Johnson: the subtle English humor of British politics

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Anglo-Saxons are considered to be very restrained and calculating people. But sometimes even they lose their heads and commit extravagances. What is happening in London now makes the professionals of economics and diplomacy seriously nervous. A few weeks ago, the British voted to leave the European Union. And now one of the most shocking politicians has been appointed to the post of head of the Foreign Office - the former mayor of London, the star of embarrassing situations and notorious joker Boris Johnson.

Yes, since Wednesday Boris Johnson has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and for several days, especially witty bloggers wondered how many countries Boris will have time to offend in a week? So far nothing has happened.

And nevertheless, many regard Johnson's appointment as the very "subtle English humor" and assume that after that the new premier, Theresa May, will not be on Downing Street for long.

But before discussing Boris's future, let's deal with Johnson in order. So, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is the eldest son of writer Stanley Patrick Johnson and artist Charlotte Fawcett. Boris's pedigree is impressive. Paternal grandfather, Osman Ali Kemal Wilfred Johnson, was the son of a Turkish public figure, journalist and Turkish Interior Minister (in the government of Ahmed Teflik Pasha). He moved to England in the 1920s and was combined with Irene Williams as a barge. Irene came from the family of barons von Pfeffel, and Prince Paul of Württemberg is listed among her ancestors.

Thus, Johnson bizarrely mixes the blood of the royals of Europe (Boris is related to the royal families of Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden) and temperamental representatives of the Ottoman Empire (some bloggers wittily call the man "the grandson of a Turkish citizen"). Perhaps this explains Boris's penchant for eccentric behavior.

Johnson graduated from Eton College and Oxford University and began a career as a journalist for the Daily Telegraph. His political career kicked off in 2001, when he was elected Member of the House of Commons of the British Parliament from the Henley constituency in the elections of that year.

And in May 2008 Boris Johnson became mayor of London. In this position, he became famous for creating a 24-hour metropolitan subway system, a bicycle rental system, a magnificent organization of the 2012 Olympics in the British capital, an epic fall next to the Duchess of Cornwall during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, an accident on the cable car (Johnson got stuck, continuing to wave flags) and sarcastic remarks about politicians of other states.

Boris's remarks about foreign politicians are a separate topic. Hillary Clinton (he called the former prime minister a "sadistic nurse in a psychiatric hospital") and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan got the most. About the latter, Boris wrote a vulgar poem in which he called the politician "a wonderful guy from Ankara who was an amazing nerd until he began to lead a wild life with a goat."

Not without a remark to the President of Russia. “I'm not really a fan of Vlad at all. Quite the opposite. Although he looks like the house elf Dobby, he is actually a ruthless tyrant, the politician wrote late last year in one of his columns.

Many do not take Johnson seriously and call him a "clown." For stories about sensations from soft drugs, a tendency to excessive, sometimes vulgar, revelations and, of course, for an extravagant hairstyle "hello to Trump."

And nevertheless, many authoritative and influential people support Boris. They believe that Johnson is exactly the foreign minister who will be able to convey to world leaders the new policy of Britain leaving the EU. By the way, Boris has already stressed that the results of Brexit for the British are the adoption of laws without regard to the European Court of Justice and control over immigration policy.

How successful Johnson will be in his new post - time will tell. Fortunately, so far there have been no serious diplomatic conflicts.

Photo source: Globallookpress.com