"Nicolas' Financial Matters": what's the social media chatter about?
Social Media's Viral Character: "Nicolas Qui Paie," the Angry French Taxpayer
By Xavier Martinage Published on **+ Copy link Link copied**
For quite some time now, "Nicolas" has been a familiar name on social media, particularly on X. With an account name of "Nicolas qui paie," this character has been stirring up controversy for weeks, boasting a substantial following of nearly 29,000 people on X. Yet, as reported by *20 Minutes, "Nicolas" is a fictional character[2]. This tax-paying everyman criticizes everything from taxes to public services, even public audiovisual and retirement funds. Every day, he comments on news by sharing articles from the press or televised interventions.
According to the page's animator, as interviewed by 20 Minutes, "Nicolas" symbolizes an "active worker" who contributes significantly to the state. He's also the representative of those whose "return on investment" is questionable, embodying the notion of "the sucker who pays for everyone else." The purpose of such a page appears to be highlighting what the animator considers absurd or abnormal, such as the difference in salary between gross and net, a topic that has been widely discussed lately.
From the Right to the Center
Interestingly, right-wing, far-right, and even center-oriented groups have embraced this character. In addition to the X network, "Nicolas qui paie" is also active on another social network: Discord. With around 700 members, this group consists primarily of users who identify as "national-libertarians" or "westerners." Discussions often veer towards sensitive topics like immigration[3]. The animator defends "freedom of expression" while upholding the rules of the networks the account is present on.
Despite the controversial nature of parallels and debates, the man behind the account tells 20 Minutes that there is no organized movement behind it. Rather, it's merely a "community." Interestingly, among the account's followers, there are deputies from UDI, Nouvelle Energie, Rassemblement national, Reconquest, and even Identités et Libertés[4].
"Too much tax kills the taxpayer" : David Lisnard very firm Curiously, "Nicolas" has even been mentioned by deputies or on the radio. However, the person behind the account insists on not supporting any political party, although it's clear that only right-wing sympathizers identify with the character[4]. More broadly, "Nicolas qui paie" seems to be part of a new wave of libertarian accounts on X, as deciphered by our colleagues[3]. A shift, it seems, desired by Elon Musk since his takeover of the social network.
On a side note, the character of "Nicolas" has been adapted in memes to represent critiques of social taxes, often targeting specific groups[1]. This character embodies frustrations with social welfare systems, symbolizing the idea that certain individuals or groups are burdened by taxes while others may not contribute as much. The use of humor allows controversial messages to be conveyed in an accessible and shareable manner, potentially reaching a broader audience beyond traditional right-wing circles[1].
- In the realm of social media, "Nicolas," the vocal taxpayer, critiques not only taxes but also public services, public audiovisual, and retirement funds, often sharing his thoughts on general news, politics, and entertainment.
- Beyond the X network, "Nicolas qui paie" has gained traction on Discord, where conversations lean towards sensitive topics like immigration, and his followers include deputies from various political parties such as UDI, Nouvelle Energie, Rassemblement national, Reconquête, Identités et libertés, indicating a wide range of support from right-wing to center-oriented groups.
