A man who slapped French President Emmanuel Macron during a public event has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, but with 14 months of those as a suspended sentence.
The 28-year-old was also banned from holding public office or possessing any weapons, television station BFMTV reported from the courtroom in Valence.
Damien T slapped the 43-year-old president on Tuesday during a visit to Tain-l’Hermitage, south of Lyon. The incident caught on camera caused consternation throughout the country.
The 28-year-old did not deny the act in court and, according to the TV station, said he was a victim of injustice.
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Macron stands for the decline of France, the broadcaster quoted him as saying. Previously, he had also considered throwing an egg or a pie, he said.
Macron talked about the incident in a TV interview on Thursday, stressing it was an “isolated act.”
He went on to talk about violence against women and comment on how there had been “moments of very high tension in our country,” for example during the “Yellow Vest” protests.
About a year before national elections, and less than two weeks before regional elections, Macron is on a tour through the country to meet voters.
