The man who slapped French President Emmanuel Macron in the face during his visit to a small town in southern France earlier this week will spend four months in prison for the action, a French court decided Thursday. Damien Tarel, 28, was given an 18-month sentence for the high-profile slap, but will spend all but four of those months suspended on probation.
Tarel faced up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($54,000) for the charge of violence against a public official.
A public prosecutor requested Tarel spend 18 months in jail for an action he decried as a “deliberate act of violence.” Tarel, who will be jailed immediately, acknowledged in court he hit the president with a “rather violent” slap, but defended his action by saying he was angered at France’s decline.