William Molinié 20:35 pm, May 09, 2023

On Sunday, the security of the second home of the President of the Republic detected a drone at the entrance of the property. Since the photos published in "Paris Match", where we see Emmanuel Macron with his wife in the park of the Palace of Versailles, the Elysee redoubles its efforts to protect the privacy of the president.

The president's security is tightening the nets. According to information from Europe 1, the mobile gendarmes of the 33/7 squadron from Vouziers in the Ardennes, securing around the Lantern, intercepted Sunday around 15 p.m. a drone that was preparing to fly over the second home of the President of the Republic in Versailles in the Yvelines, while Emmanuel Macron was on site.

The Elysée has always been very careful about the privacy of its tenant. But since the photos published at the end of April in Paris Match, where we see the presidential couple walking in the park of the Palace of Versailles, the presidency is redoubling its efforts to prevent unauthorized photos from revealing vulnerabilities. That's why very quickly, the president's security reacted to find the pilot or pilots of this suspicious aircraft.

Two young people from Yvelin apprehended

We didn't have to look very far. In front of the mobile gendarmes, were two young Yvelinois aged 18 and 20. The two Sunday dronistes were immediately apprehended and checked. Obviously, they were unaware of the ban on flying over the property. The drone, too, was thoroughly inspected. According to a source familiar with the matter, no camera or camera backed by the device has captured any recording.

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After making sure there was no cover-up of a malicious act, the two young adults were left free. The overflight of the Lantern with a drone is prohibited and punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 75,000 euros fine and up to one year in prison, according to Le Parisien which reported similar facts in 2020 and 2021.

Emmanuel Macron left the Lantern the next day at 10 am, without any new small propeller device having been detected, towards the Place Clémenceau in Paris (8th) where he was expected half an hour later in front of the statue of General de Gaulle for the commemoration ceremonies of May 8. Contacted by Europe 1, the Versailles prosecutor's office was not able to indicate whether an investigation had been opened and whether the two defendants were the subject of legal proceedings.