Established in the political landscape for several decades, the new Prime Minister François Bayrou is particularly known for a scene that remains in everyone's memory. That of the slap given to an 11-year-old child in 2002, in the middle of the presidential campaign, is one of them.
A scene that no one has forgotten. Appointed Prime Minister this Friday, François Bayrou is an essential figure in French political life.
Party leader, several times minister, mayor, deputy, European deputy, the president of MoDem, aged 73, has extensive experience. He even tried his luck three times during the presidential election.
His first attempt to reach the Élysée was also marked by an outburst, which, at the time, did not go unnoticed. On April 9, 2002, during a visit to the Meinau district, in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), the man who then wore the colors of the UDF, the former party of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, will carry out a slaps an 11-year-old boy whom he accused of “picking his pockets”.
Questioned a few days later, François Bayrou estimated that this reaction was “that of a father”.
While one could have imagined that this gesture would undermine the candidate's campaign, he, on the contrary, saw his rating slightly rise, to finish in 4th position, with 6.84% of the votes.
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