France has always been a country of intrigue. Recently, public discourse has been dominated by the topic of "bed bugs." Yes, you read that right: "bed bugs!"

They're being found everywhere – in schools, movie theaters, hotel rooms, and even public transport. Political parties and the government are all buzzing about it. The sight of a bed bug in a classroom, and teachers are exercising their right to withdraw. While the issue hasn't yet become a national cause, it's close! People are half-expecting President Emmanuel Macron to declare, "We are at war... we are at war... against bed bugs!" reminiscent of his proclamation during the onset of the 2020 health crisis.

Certainly, the discomfort caused by these pests shouldn't be downplayed. Yet, it's striking to see how much of the current debate in France revolves around this insect, which has always been present. This shows the gloomy state of a nation that's the homeland of Voltaire and Rousseau. Undoubtedly, the Covid crisis may have plunged French society into hysterical hygiene. But this "bed bug crisis" also indicates that France is reeling, as if dazed by a series of more severe crises it's currently facing: purchasing power, real estate, public finances, immigration, to name a few. In reality, this focus on "bed bugs" exposes a genuine identity crisis for a nation that was once revered for its history and strength. It's as if this "identity crisis" suddenly unveils a profound lack of confidence in a country trying to glimpse its future.

With the Olympics just a year away, tourists from all over the world are anxiously eyeing the proliferation of bed bugs. The American media is having a field day! Of course, the stakes are high for France, the world's top tourist destination.

But what must Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh think? Or Ukrainians dying under Russian bombs? How about the Lebanese, suffering daily from their country's economic collapse?

One can only hope that the priorities of the French will become more rational. What image is this pivotal country of the Francophonie projecting to the world? Unsettled in its present and uncertain of its future, France seems to be navel-gazing. After all, bed bugs aren't the end of the world.