French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face on Tuesday by a man while he stopped to chat with onlookers during a visit to southeast France.
Macron’s security detail quickly intervened when the man slapped the President who had approached a crowd of onlookers standing behind a metal fence, reported CNN. Two people have been arrested in this regard, according to media reports.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex said that the incident was an affront to democracy.
“A man indeed tried to hit the President of the Republic. We have no further comments at this point. Exchanges with the crowd and handshakes resumed. The trip continues,” the Elysee, French President’s official residence, said in a statement to CNN. The incident took place while Macron was on a visit to the Drome region in south-eastern France, where he met restaurateurs and students to talk about how life is returning to normal after the Covid-19 epidemic.
In video circulating on social media, Macron, dressed in shirt sleeves, could be seen walking towards a crowd of well-wishers who were behind a metal barrier. The French President reached out his hand to greet one man, in a green T-Shirt, with glasses and a face mask.
The man could be heard shouting out “Down with Macron” (“A Bas La Macronie”) and then he delivered a slap to Macron’s face.
Two of Macron’s security detail tackled the man in the green T-shirt, while another ushered Macron away.
The identity of the man who slapped Macron and his motives were unclear.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS