Macron takes blame for scandal of bodyguard who attacked protesters French president’s party did not report accusations that his former aide assaulted demonstrators
Emmanuel Macron accepted blame over a scandal in which his bodyguard assaulted protesters at a May Day rally.
About two months after the assault by aide Alexandre Benalla, the French President said it was his fault because he trusted his former bodyguard.
The controversy arose after Mr Benalla attacked two protesters in May and was suspended for two weeks, but returned to work soon after.
It was only after an investigation by the newspaper, which aired video of him assaulting the protesters, that the case reignited and he was fired.
“An exemplary republic doesn’t mean making no mistakes,” Mr Macron said. “Nobody around me or in my cabinet has ever been protected or exonerated from the rules. Never.
“If anyone is looking for who is responsible, it’s me and me alone. I’m the one who trusted Alexandre Benalla.”
The president is under scrutiny as to why he did not report his former bodyguard’s actions to police.
The assaults by Mr Benalla and another member of Mr Macron’s governing En Marche party are the subject of four separate investigations – two by parliamentary committees, a criminal investigation and one by police.
Another three high-ranking police officers were also charged on Sunday after allegedly passing CCTV images of the assaults to Mr Benalla. As a result, Mr Macron’s approval ratings have sunk to a record low.
In parliament, he insisted he had done nothing wrong. He had a defiant tone when telling his party’s MPs: “They can come and get me. I will answer to the French people. Mr Macron is in a crisis that detractors have described as the worst since he came to power 14 months ago.
The president made time for jokes: “Alexandre Benalla has never had the nuclear codes. Alexandre Benalla is not my lover.”
Mr Macron said the actions of his former aide were shocking and unacceptable, while also saying Mr Benalla played an important role in the presidential campaign.
Opposition party Les Republicans accused Mr Macron of only explaining himself in the company of followers, rather than the French people.
During May Day anarchist groups, known as Black Blocs, hijacked a peaceful rally against Mr Macron’s public sector labour reforms.
Police said about 1,200 masked and hooded protesters attended the annual May 1 demonstration by unions.