French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face on Tuesday by a man in a crowd of onlookers while on a walkabout in southern France.
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 a video circulating on social media, Macron, dressed in shirt sleeves, could be seen walking toward 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 Macronia” (“A Bas La Macronie“) and then he delivered a slap to Macron’s face.
Macron’s security entourage quickly intervened to pull the man to the ground and move Macron away from him.
So far, two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The presidential administration said there had been an attempt to strike Macron, but declined further comment.
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 a video circulating on social media, Macron, dressed in shirt sleeves, could be seen walking toward 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 Macronia” (“A Bas La Macronie“) and then he delivered a slap to Macron’s face.
Macron’s security entourage quickly intervened to pull the man to the ground and move Macron away from him.
So far, two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The presidential administration said there had been an attempt to strike Macron, but declined further comment.
