French President Emmanuel Macron said the right of expression is guaranteed, but there should be no violence and hatred in actions and speeches, otherwise democracy itself will become a threat.

This came in statements made by Macron - on Tuesday - to a local newspaper;

Commenting on the slap he was subjected to by a citizen during his visit to the Drom area in the southeast of the country.

"Everything is fine, this incident must be assessed as an individual attack," Macron added. "This incident should not stand in the way of issues that concern the lives of so many people."

He continued, saying that the authorities in the country must be respected, and added, "I will never give up this struggle. The authorities - whoever they are - are greater than us, and they should not be subject to such attacks."

Macron said the incident was individual and should not dominate public discussions (Reuters)

Macron indicated that France enjoys freedom of expression and voting, adding, "There must be no violence and hatred in actions and speeches, otherwise democracy itself will become a threat."

"The French are Republicans, and most of them are concerned with the country's problems, so this single event and extremist violence should not be allowed to dominate public discussions," he added.

He also made it clear that the incident did not affect him or worry him, stressing that he will continue to work as if nothing had happened, as he put it.

club manager

Sources familiar with the investigations said - today, Wednesday - that the man, who was reported to have slapped Macron in the face, runs a club for lovers of medieval fencing, and has no previous criminal record.

A police source identified the suspect as Damian Tarrell, 28, and local prosecutors said he was being investigated for assaulting a public servant.

Macron was on a pulse-pounding tour of the country after the coronavirus pandemic and less than a year before the presidential election, when he was slapped in the face as he greeted a small crowd of passers-by in southern France.

Tarrell was wearing a shirt when he shouted "Down with the macaroni", then gave a war cry to the French army in the era of the monarchy, and a source closely linked to the investigation described him as sounding cranky.

The source added that Tarrell and another man were still being held on Wednesday.

The penalty for assaulting a public servant is 3 years in prison and a fine of up to 45,000 euros.

Tarrell runs a local club for fighting games, which focuses on playing historical European combat games, including sword fencing.

slap

Yesterday, Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face by a man who was standing in a crowd, while the president was touring the south of the country, according to a video clip of the incident.

BFM TV and RMC radio said Macron's security escorts quickly intervened, threw the man to the ground, and pushed Macron away.

The police arrested two people in connection with the incident.

Prime Minister Jean Castix said the incident was an affront to democracy.

The accident occurred during Macron's visit to the Drôme region (southeast of the country), where he met with diners and students, and talked about how life can return to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic.

A video clip circulated on social media showed Macron, wearing a T-shirt, heading towards a crowd standing behind a metal barrier.

The president extended his hand to shake hands with a man wearing a green shirt, glasses and a muzzle, but the man shouted "Down with the macaroni", then slapped Macron in the face.