PARIS: France's opposition lashed out at Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday over his reaction to revelations that his top safety aide roughed up protesters, accusing the president of badly mishandling the worst scandal since he took workplace.
After days of silence, Macron in spite of everything spoke out past due Tuesday over the debacle surrounding disgraced ex-bodyguard Alexandre Benalla, who faces prison charges after he was once filmed scuffling with May Day protesters in Paris while dressed in a police helmet.
"What happened on May 1 is terrible, serious, and for me it was a disappointment and a betrayal," Macron instructed lawmakers from his Republic on the Move (LREM) celebration.
"The only person responsible for this affair is me," he stated, in an angry intervention that gave the impression to take intention at parliament's grilling of his top aides in addition to press protection of the affair.
"If they're looking for someone to hold responsible, he's right in front of you. They can come and get me."
Many politicians blasted Macron's obvious grievance of parliamentary interrogation of his personnel, with far-left MP Alexis Corbiere accusing him of "swaggering" and Gerard Larcher of the rightwing Republicans describing the reaction as certainly one of "amateurism and panic".
Le Monde newspaper, which broke the tale by publishing videos of Benalla hitting one protester and wrestling any other, stated Macron had spoken "before a loyal audience, where there was no possibility of contradicting him".
It deplored Macron's attack on media protection which the president stated was once evidence the clicking "no longer looks for the truth" - feedback extra steadily heard from US President Donald Trump than the centrist French chief.
Lawmakers say critical unanswered questions stay about "Benallagate", and are increasingly calling for Macron to address the nation.
Benalla, 26, was once no longer sacked or charged till the scandal broke last week - in spite of senior officers realizing concerning the May Day incident - and he reportedly loved perks bizarre for any person of his rank.
A police search of his workplace was once underway on Wednesday, in keeping with the presidency.
Socialist chief Olivier Faure stated the scandal marked a turning level for the Macron presidency.
"It's the end of innocence," he stated. "We can no longer look at Emmanuel Macron and his majority as if they haven't lied, betrayed and hidden the truth."
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, promising "deep changes", stated the management would care for courses from the scandal in September after the summer break, "once it has been clearly established what went wrong".
Benalla was once given a two-week suspension days after the incident and got rid of from setting up the president's safety during his journeys.
But the alleged assault was once no longer reported to prosecutors, sparking allegations of a cover-up.
It has also emerged that endured to draw a salary during his supposedly unpaid suspension, and must have his salary docked now that he has left.
Macron's workplace director Patrick Strzoda instructed lawmakers Tuesday that he determined there were not sufficient elements to justify turning Benalla over to prosecutors, no longer least as a result of no prison grievance have been filed towards him.
Macron's chief of personnel Alexis Kohler will appear prior to the Senate committee on Thursday.
The scandal comes 14 months after Macron was once elected vowing to restore integrity to French politics, and polls recommend the 40-year-old's ballot rankings - already low - have taken an extra hit.
An Ipsos ballot revealed Tuesday found that a report 60 consistent with cent reported an adverse opinion of Macron.
Benalla has been charged with assault and impersonating a police officer, while also illegally receiving police surveillance photos in a bid to claim his actions had been justified.
Vincent Crase, an associate and safety agent hired by the LREM who was once also at the scene, has also been charged, as have three law enforcement officials.
After days of silence, Macron in spite of everything spoke out past due Tuesday over the debacle surrounding disgraced ex-bodyguard Alexandre Benalla, who faces prison charges after he was once filmed scuffling with May Day protesters in Paris while dressed in a police helmet.
"What happened on May 1 is terrible, serious, and for me it was a disappointment and a betrayal," Macron instructed lawmakers from his Republic on the Move (LREM) celebration.
"The only person responsible for this affair is me," he stated, in an angry intervention that gave the impression to take intention at parliament's grilling of his top aides in addition to press protection of the affair.
"If they're looking for someone to hold responsible, he's right in front of you. They can come and get me."
Many politicians blasted Macron's obvious grievance of parliamentary interrogation of his personnel, with far-left MP Alexis Corbiere accusing him of "swaggering" and Gerard Larcher of the rightwing Republicans describing the reaction as certainly one of "amateurism and panic".
Le Monde newspaper, which broke the tale by publishing videos of Benalla hitting one protester and wrestling any other, stated Macron had spoken "before a loyal audience, where there was no possibility of contradicting him".
It deplored Macron's attack on media protection which the president stated was once evidence the clicking "no longer looks for the truth" - feedback extra steadily heard from US President Donald Trump than the centrist French chief.
Lawmakers say critical unanswered questions stay about "Benallagate", and are increasingly calling for Macron to address the nation.
Benalla, 26, was once no longer sacked or charged till the scandal broke last week - in spite of senior officers realizing concerning the May Day incident - and he reportedly loved perks bizarre for any person of his rank.
A police search of his workplace was once underway on Wednesday, in keeping with the presidency.
Socialist chief Olivier Faure stated the scandal marked a turning level for the Macron presidency.
"It's the end of innocence," he stated. "We can no longer look at Emmanuel Macron and his majority as if they haven't lied, betrayed and hidden the truth."
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, promising "deep changes", stated the management would care for courses from the scandal in September after the summer break, "once it has been clearly established what went wrong".
Benalla was once given a two-week suspension days after the incident and got rid of from setting up the president's safety during his journeys.
But the alleged assault was once no longer reported to prosecutors, sparking allegations of a cover-up.
It has also emerged that endured to draw a salary during his supposedly unpaid suspension, and must have his salary docked now that he has left.
Macron's workplace director Patrick Strzoda instructed lawmakers Tuesday that he determined there were not sufficient elements to justify turning Benalla over to prosecutors, no longer least as a result of no prison grievance have been filed towards him.
Macron's chief of personnel Alexis Kohler will appear prior to the Senate committee on Thursday.
The scandal comes 14 months after Macron was once elected vowing to restore integrity to French politics, and polls recommend the 40-year-old's ballot rankings - already low - have taken an extra hit.
An Ipsos ballot revealed Tuesday found that a report 60 consistent with cent reported an adverse opinion of Macron.
Benalla has been charged with assault and impersonating a police officer, while also illegally receiving police surveillance photos in a bid to claim his actions had been justified.
Vincent Crase, an associate and safety agent hired by the LREM who was once also at the scene, has also been charged, as have three law enforcement officials.
Emmanuel Macron under fire over response to security aide scandal
![Emmanuel Macron under fire over response to security aide scandal]()
Reviewed by Kailash
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July 25, 2018
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