François Bayrou: a look back at the slap inflicted on an 11-year-old child, a devastating TV sequence

François Bayrou has been appointed Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron. A video where he slaps a child resurfaces.

© BESTIMAGE François Bayrou: a look back at this slap inflicted on an 11-year-old child, a devastating TV sequence

IN BRIEF

• François Bayrou was appointed Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron, and a video from 2002 resurfaces.
• In April 2002, in Strasbourg, Bayrou slapped an 11-year-old child, sparking mixed reactions.
• Discover how this incident paradoxically reinforced Bayrou's image in public opinion.

It's official. François Bayrou has just been appointed Prime Minister by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. This is an opportunity to revisit a shock video of the politician.

During a trip to Strasbourg, François Bayrou was attacked by young people from a neighborhood of the city. While one of them seems to be rummaging through his pockets on the sly, the politician slaps him violently.

A shocking video of François Bayrou hitting a child

 “You're not picking my pockets!” says François Bayrou after his slap. Indeed, a video shows him hitting an 11-year-old child. The scene took place on April 9, 2002, in Strasbourg, in the Meinau district.

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This happened just a few days before the first round of the 2002 presidential election. Patrick Mignola, former president of the MoDem group&at the National Assembly, returned to this gesture in an interview for Franceinfo. “We were very, very scared, because there is normally nothing worse for a politician than to be violent. But we said to ourselves: he is going to collapse, and that is going to be the end of his political career…”

A video that does not shock à the time

However, François Bayrou's career did not stop and this video did not cause a scandal. “And in fact, the effect was completely reversedin public opinion. The reaction of the women and men I could meet in the street was that there was this reflex of: “Çthat's not done”. And deep down, I think that the French women and men recognized that Bayrou that ultimately, he was someone who had principles. There are things that are done, and things that are not done. You pick my pockets, you get a slap.” explains Patrick Mignola.

This slap sequence provoked reactions ésurprising. “There was the feeling that there was a decline of authority of the State, landmarks that were being lost, and it is true that from this point of view, the slap had shown a certain form of authority, he who was caricatured in a somewhat weak way, after this event, his electoral base has progressed. He was at 4/5, he went to 7, 8 to 9.” explains Frédéric Dabi, general manager of l’IFOP. “&At the time, this slap of country life was completely new. Çit pleased the side fresh. In the current context of terrible tensions, I doubt that it will be perceived in such a positive way. It will be seen once again as a decay of the political field.”