Macron slap: Four months for man who attacked French president - BBC News

A medieval combat enthusiast has been given four months in jail after he admitted slapping French President Emmanuel Macron.

Damien Tarel told the court it was an act of impulse, but the prosecutor said it was a "deliberate act of violence".

The court heard that Tarel subscribed to right-wing or far-right politics and was close to the yellow-vest movement.

President Macron said the attack should not be trivialised but had to be kept in proportion.

As he slapped the president, Tarel was heard to shout "Montjoie and Saint-Denis!

The three judges said Tarel should be given 18 months, with 14 months of the sentence suspended.

His four months in jail will start immediately but the rest will only be enforced if he commits another offence.

He had earlier considered throwing an egg or cream tart, but insisted he had not considered slapping Mr Macron.

Friends had earlier described Tarel as apolitical and Le Parisien had quoted one source who summed up his politics as "ideological mush".

The French president had earlier dismissed the assault as isolated, while emphasising that "ultra-violent people" should not be allowed to hijack public debate.

French president slapped in face on official visit.

Jail for man who slapped Macron on official visit8