The appointment of Manuel Valls in the Bayrou government on December 23 was not greeted with joy. This is the less than we can say. After a particularly salty logrrhea of a France Inter listener, December 24against the one who is now Minister of Overseas Territories (third protocol rank), it would be the turn of physical attacks.
At the end of December 2024, while Manuel Valls was back in government, a video of a man slapping him was shared on X and on Facebooknotably. But several Internet users quickly spotted the scam: this video dates from 2017.
A candidate for the left-wing primary in the middle of the campaign
On January 17, 2017, Manuel Valls was no longer Prime Minister since December 6, 2016, but he traveled to the town of Lamballe (Côtes-d'Armor) as a candidate in the left-wing primary. He is welcomed by Jean-Yves Le Drian, then Minister of Defense and President of the Brittany Regional Council.
The writing of the Telegrambut also that of Daily, follows the visit of Manuel Valls and films his exit from Lamballe town hall.
In the short sequence shared on social networks, we see Manuel Valls shaking hands with several people. One of them shakes his hand, then calls out to him before giving him a little slap on the lower part of the face. The reaction of the members of Manuel Valls' security was not long in coming: the young man was grabbed by the neck, before being violently slammed to the ground.
A suspended prison sentence
After his immediate arrest, the young man responsible for the slight blow to the elected official's face was also judged with lightning speed – twenty-four hours later – in the context of an appearance on prior recognition of guilt.
Prosecuted for willful violence without incapacity for work with premeditation, the 18-year-old man had been sentenced to three months in prison and 105 hours of community service. Manuel Valls had demanded and obtained a symbolic euro.
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