A man slapped French President Emmanuel Macron in the face on Tuesday as he walked to a crowd of his well-wishers and onlookers who were behind a metal barrier.
The incident took place in southern France.
The security guards of President Macron quickly intervened to pull the man to the ground and took away Macron from him.
Broadcasters BFM TV and RMC radio reported that two persons were arrested in connection with the incident.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex termed the incident as an “affront to democracy”.
The incident took place when French President Macron was on a visit to the Drome region in the south-eastern France to meet the restaurateurs and students to have an interaction about the situation after the Covid19 epidemic, said a media report.
In a video, which is being widely circulated on social media, Macron is seen dressed in shirt sleeves.
He is seen fast walking towards a crowd of well-wishers, who were behind a metal barrier.
Macron reached out his hand to greet a man who was in a green T-Shirt with glasses and a face mask.
The man, who could be heard shouting out ‘Down with Macronia’ (A Bas La Macronie) and then slapped Macron in the face.
Two of the French President’s security guards caught the man in green T-shirt and another moved Macron away.
But for a few more seconds, Macron remained in the vicinity of the crowd.
He also appeared to be talking to someone on the other side of the barriers.
The report said the presidential administration said there had been an attempt to strike Macron but it declined to comment further.
The identify of the man, who slapped Macron in the face and the motive behind the act are yet to be ascertained.