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I acted on impulse – Man who slapped French president Macron

Published

3 years ago

June 11, 2021

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The man who slapped French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Damien Tarel, told the court Thursday that his action was not done with intent.

He said while he considered doing something notable like throwing an egg or cream tart, slapping Mr Macron was an act of impulse.

He claimed that although he belonged to the anti-establishment gilets jaunes (yellow-vests) movement, which staged anti-Macron protests during the early years of his presidency, he “acted instinctively.”

“When I saw his friendly, lying look, which sought me out as a voter, I was filled with disgust,” he reportedly told the court.

But prosecutors said that it was a “deliberate act of violence” and they called for 18 months in prison for assaulting a public official.

The three judges said Mr Tarel should be sentenced to 18 months, 14 of which will be suspended.

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

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Although friends described Mr Tarel as “apolitical,” the court heard that Mr Tarel subscribed to far-right politics as well as medieval French history.

Mr Tarel, 28, described himself on his Instagram page as an European martial arts enthusiast with an avatar of himself dressed in costumes from the Middle Ages and carrying a long sword.

Mr Tarel was arrested outside a hotel school in south-east France alongside another accomplice, a man suspected of filming the assault on Mr Macron.

Both men’s homes were searched after the attack in Tain-l’Hermitage.

Investigators reportedly found weapons and a copy of Hitler’s anti-Semitic text Mein Kampf at the home of the second man, according to the BBC.

Mr Tarel had slapped President Macron as he shouted “Montjoie and Saint-Denis! Down with Macronism,” a medieval battle-cry.

Mr Macron was attacked on camera during a walkabout in Tain-l’Hermitage which his office said was to feel the pulse of the country.

The president had dismissed the attack as isolated, but be stressed that “ultra-violent people” should not be allowed to hijack public debate.

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“There have been moments of very high tension and violence in our country which I’ve had to experience as president, during the gilets jaunes crisis. But society is in a different place today,” he said.

JUST IN: Tinubu, Shettima to pay toll at airport gates

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima will now pay the required toll whenever they use the gates at airports.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, announced this to journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said he presented two memos which were approved by the council.

Details later…

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Tinubu suspends 0.5% cybersecurity levy

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has suspended the 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy after criticism and protest trailed the announcement.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced the suspension.

Idris said Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation and review the modalities for its implementation.

Details later…

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Minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls, says it’s ‘totally unacceptable’

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency project.

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and that the future of the girls should be a priority.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.

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She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.

“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

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“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm and violence.