VALENCE: A 28-year-old mediaeval history enthusiast who slapped French President Emmanuel Macron risks up to three years in jail during his appearance in court for the first time on Thursday, having told investigators he acted “without thinking”.
The man, named as Damien T., has been in custody since the incident on Tuesday and was expected to be convicted of assaulting a public figure during his appearance before a magistrate in the southern town of Valence.
The charge carries a maximum three-year jail sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros ($55,000), although the court will take into account the defendant’s clean criminal record and any expression of remorse.
“He contends that he acted instinctively and ‘without thinking’ to express his annoyance,” a statement from the local prosecutor’s office said late on Wednesday.
Damien T., described by friends as usually shy and placid, also told investigators that he sympathised with anti-government “yellow vest” protesters and leaned to the right/far-right in his political views, but had no party affiliation.
The long-haired resident of the village of Saint-Villier, who has no fixed profession, is passionate about mediaeval history and martial arts and shouted an old royalist slogan as he struck the president.
His friend, named as Arthur C., was arrested at the same time on Tuesday having filmed the slap, but will not be charged over the incident, the prosecutor said.
Macron shrugged off the assault, calling it an “isolated event”, and he has vowed to continue meeting voters despite concerns for his personal security.
