The editorial team presents a new weekly series. Our philosopher will tackle social issues that may touch on politics, and vice versa, but always without overthinking. After all, it's the weekend! Welcome, friend of Saturday. Our cabinet examines today a patient that refuses to die, contagious for centuries, and stubbornly refusing any cure: the disease of titles. The Monsieur-Le syndrome. Egotistical Me-I. The robe does not make the mpiandry: this is how one might translate in the Malagasy context the 13th-century saying that the habit does not make the monk. In other words, a title does not make a person of quality. At least, not always. Let us open the file of specimens. "Mister President" does not systematically give a statesman's stature. "General" does not necessarily make him a military genius. "Mister Judge" does not always make him a model of virtue. "Mister Minister" does not prevent him from becoming sinister. "Mister Deputy" ensures nothing of his honor. A list that can be declined. Infinitely. In plural. In feminine. As for religious titles such as "Papa," "Pasitera," "Mompera," "Mpiandry," "Katekista" or "Diakona," we shall leave to the zealots of bigotry the responsibility of giving them the benefit of the doubt. Conversely, calling a woman a "whore" does not necessarily make her a streetwalker. Calling a man a "fool" does not convert him into female anatomy, even if that is the dictionary definition. Fortunately. Or not. Being called "Mister this" or "Madam that" has never changed anything. Except the ego of the concerned party and their relatives, for the disease that accompanies it is contagious. But also that of the second office, for it is sexually transmissible. What gives a human being the capacity to assume their functions with competence and dignity is not the title. It is their moral qualities. Their sense of state. Their patriotism. Their magnanimity. Their competence. Their self-respect. Their respect for others. Why before a flight does an airline never ask passengers to vote to choose who will hold the title of captain? It designates them based on training, temperament, and experience. No one wants to cross a turbulence zone with a pilot elected for popularity or good looks. The only exceptions where the title is in principle in line with competence: the academic and scientific fields. We recognize in "Mister Professor" the talent to teach. We recognize in "Mister Doctor" the right to heal. We accept in "Mister Engineer" the quality of being able to provide technical solutions. Etc. Common point with the captain: none of these titles are obtained by vote. In politics, it is different: election allows power to be given to anyone. It is therefore normal to observe that many elected officials do whatever they want. With the non-elected, it is even worse: they feel accountable to no one. Not even to their reflection in the mirror. In the political world, a title is not a quality guarantee. It is just a function attribute and a justification of power. The power of politicians. Police officers. Magistrates. Customs officials. Tax inspectors. Clerks who control the flow of paperwork. And every other raptor that lives and steals from top to bottom of public administration. The power to decide. The power to appoint and to fire. The power to accelerate and to block. The power to extort and to harass. The power to waste public money as if it grew in the garden. The power to travel at the princess's expense. The power to bother you. Sometimes for free. But much more often, seeking to monetize your peace of mind. The power to spread rumors, for many stupidly believe that the word of power has gospel value. The power to be catapulted "Mister sixth dan karate obtained in a surprise envelope." Friend of Saturday, remember this well: when ethics closes shop, abuses arrive in Tananarive. But also elsewhere. But in all these patients afflicted with Monsieur-Le syndrome (or Madame-La), there is an irrefutable conviction: they are the nation's elite. The most intelligent. The most patriotic. The most upright. The most experienced. The most courageous. The most cultured. Those who never make mistakes. Those who are always right. Those authorized to distribute decorations and good marks of "Malagasy heroes," even to scoundrels. Those who tolerate neither contradiction nor annoyance: the most widespread allergy at the top of the pyramid. In short, the champions. It remains to be seen in what.