Kabir Singh
For centuries long, a thing that never changed is humans forming social groups, which is the sole reason for their survival. When we talk about these social groups, we shouldn’t forget that every distinct group requires a leader for the pack. Otherwise, imagine a chaotic situation where nobody knows what to do next. A pack of wolves or a shrewdness of apes cannot survive without an alpha leader. The same is the case for us social animals. It is just that we have the fortune of democratically electing a leader. Needless to say that politicians around the globe have a pretty messed up image, but we need them. Every nation desires to have a good leader, a good president, or a prime minister, how good they get is completely a different story. The point is we cannot deny the fact that the 21st century and its democracy cannot survive without national and global leaders.
Macron and what happened during French election campaign
What brought our attention to the concept and importance of having a national leader is the recent upsetting incident of French President Emmanuel Macron getting slapped by a bystander as he approaches to greet the crowd with a handshake. The video is making rounds on the internet and has become a viral piece of content.
The video that surfaced on social media shows Mr. Macron approaching to greet the crowd standing behind the security barricading. As he shakes hands with commoners, a man wearing a green T-shirt took hold of his arm and said some words before slapping the president of France.
Watch the incident video below.
Macron’s security officials responsed
Within a few moments, Macron’s security personnel intervened and got hold of the two people involved who were detained afterward.
“It was around 1:15 pm when the president after visiting a school got into his car but quickly came out as the onlookers were calling his name,” said the governor of the region. “The incident took place when the president tried to meet them,” he added.
Two 28-year-old men from the area are being interrogated. According to the local prosecutor’s office, “their intentions remain unknown at this stage of the investigation.” The attack in the Drome region’s village of Tain-l’Hermitage prompted indignation across the political landscape, overshadowing Macron’s “listening trip” to “take the nation’s pulse.”
French Prime Minister’s take
“Politics can never be about violence, verbal or physical abuse,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said in the French parliament, adding that “democracy has been targeted through the president.” According to an aide, Macron continued his journey following the incident, which he described as an “attempted slap” despite camera evidence appearing to show the man coming into contact with the president’s face.
What Mr. Macron said
Someone can be heard yelling “Down with Macronism!” on the footage of the event.
“I’m in good shape. We must put this episode, which I believe is a one-time occurrence, into perspective,” said the French President in an interview given to Dauphine Libere Newspaper.
“Everyone, both politicians and civilians, must maintain calm and should always respect in democratic life,” Mr. Macron added.
“We shouldn’t allow isolated occurrences, violent individuals to grab attention of the public debate: they do not deserve it,” Mr. Macron further adding to his statement on the matter.
Standing in support or against any political group is your democratic right. You may choose whosoever you like, but not at the cost of altering the idea of democracy. In simple words, having democratic freedom doesn’t buy you a ticket to its maltreatment.
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