Next Presidential Candidates Unitedly Criticize: "Violence Can Never Be Justified"
French President Emmanuel Macron slapped and dodging during a provincial tour [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face by a man on the street while on a regional tour.
On the 8th (local time), local media reported that President Macron was slapped by a citizen in the small village of Tain-l'Hermitage in the Dr?me department in southeastern France that afternoon.
At the time, President Macron was walking down the street greeting citizens in the village he visited for his regional tour. He then approached a crowd gathered across a fence and, saying "Thank you," grabbed the left arm of a man in the front row.
At that moment, the man shouted slogans of the right-wing faction dreaming of a return to the French monarchy, such as "Long live Saint-Denis" and "Down with Macronism," and struck President Macron's face with his right hand.
The incident happened so quickly that the security guards could not intervene. The police have arrested the man who hit President Macron and another man who was present at the scene to investigate the exact motive behind the crime.
After the commotion, President Macron said, "I have always sought to engage with people at very close distances," adding, "That is what I want," according to foreign media reports.
President Macron also added, "Some people express anger or cause confusion, and if that is justified, we will continue to respond, but not to foolishness and violence."
In an interview with the regional daily Le Dauphin?, he said he continued to greet and take photos with people next to the man who hit him, stating, "I have always done so and will continue to do so. Nothing can stop me."
Prime Minister Jean Castex, who attended the National Assembly that day, criticized the attack, saying, "Attacking political leaders, especially the French president, is unacceptable," and that targeting the president is no different from targeting democracy itself.
Former President Fran?ois Hollande tweeted that "an intolerable and unacceptable incident" occurred and that "the entire nation must show solidarity with the head of state."
Politicians who will compete in next year's presidential election expressed support for President Macron regardless of left or right.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), said at a press conference, "I am Macron's most formidable competitor, but I cannot tolerate attacks on the president."
Jean-Luc M?lenchon, leader of the radical left "La France Insoumise" (LFI), posted on Twitter, "No difference of opinion justifies physical attacks."
Xavier Bertrand, chairman of the Hauts-de-France Regional Council and a declared presidential candidate from the right-wing camp, also condemned the incident as "the strongest expression" and said, "Violence cannot be justified by political disagreements."
Meanwhile, President Macron has been touring various regions of France twice a week for six weeks since the 2nd, aiming to measure the "pulse" of the nation hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although President Macron has not officially declared his intention to run in the next presidential election, some view this regional tour as effectively the start of his campaign.
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