A bystander slapped French President Emmanuel Macron across the face during a trip to southeast France on Tuesday on the second stop of a nation-wide tour
Images on social media and broadcast on the BFM news channel showed Macron approach a barrier to greet voters, where a long-haired man in a green t-shirt took hold of his elbow and then slapped him. Macron's bodyguards quickly intervened and two people were detained afterwards, local officials said.
Macron continued his trip afterwards, said an aide, who described the incident as an "attempted slap" though video footage appeared to show the man making contact with the president's face.Video: Can France avoid another national lockdown? Macron, who remains a highly divisive figure, is widely expected to seek a second term in next year's presidential elections and polls show him with a narrow lead over far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
It took place just as anti-government "yellow vest" protests were gathering momentum to denounce the government's policies and the head of state personally for his leadership style, which was criticised as aloof and arrogant. "Democratic life needs calm and respect, from everyone, politicians as well as citizens," Macron said.
The slap is nevertheless likely to spur debate in France about the political climate just two weeks from the first round of regional elections and 10 months from the presidential contest next April.
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