MANUEL VALLS SLAPPED: Socialist leader smacked by attacker at town hall
POLICE have arrested an attacker after he slapped former French prime minister Manuel Valls at a town hall in France today.
A man has been arrested after he slapped former French prime minister Manuel Valls at a town hall
The man, 18, who has not yet been identified attacked Mr Valls in Lamballe in Cotes-D'Armor, as the politician left the venue.
He was immediately wrestled to the ground by a bodyguard who was protecting Mr Valls.
Police swooped in on the attacker shortly afterwards and took him into custody.
Mr Valls, a French socialist is currently running to become president and was doing a walkabout to greet people.
Eyewitnesses said that he arrived at the venue at 4pm where he joined Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
He was slapped by the assailant at 4.40pm.
The man, right, attacked him in front of a stunned crowd that took pictures on mobiles
The man appeared to have been waiting for him to arrive at the security bars.
He approached him, said a few words and then slapped him in front of a stunned crowd that took pictures on mobile phones.
Mr Valls was not hurt by the attacker.
Eyewitnesses said that Mr Valls was doing a walkabout to greet people
He told local reporters: “I have never been afraid of having contact with French people. Democracy can never mean violence.”
The politician announced his candidacy to become French president in December last year.
He resigned from his government role shortly afterwards.
He is seen as a divisive figure on the left after pushing labour reforms through parliament and endorsing a ban on Muslim women wearing the burkini.
He said he wanted to "give France everything".
He threw his hat into the presidential race after President Francois Hollande announced that he would be stepping down in December 2016.