Attack on Brigitte Macron's great-nephew: the political class unanimously condemns the violence

"I know anything can happen (...). I'm afraid for my husband, my kids, all the time. I will never understand the use of violence. ». The confidence, delivered by Brigitte Macron on January 11 to the readers of our newspaper, takes even more echo after the attack on her great-nephew. Monday evening, Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, boss of the famous family chocolate factory, founded by the great-grandfather of the first lady, was beaten by several individuals in the city center of Amiens (Somme).

The link with the presidential couple is little doubt: the aggression occurred on the sidelines of a "casserolade" against the pension reform, and at the end of Emmanuel Macron's interview at the 20 hours of TF1. Beaten on the head, arms and legs, Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, 30, also heard his tormentors insulting the head of state, his wife and his family while he was beaten. Eight people were arrested moments later and taken into custody.

VIDEO. Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, the great-nephew of Brigitte Macron, attacked in Amiens

As soon as it was revealed the next day, the affair sent shockwaves through the political class, all sides combined. Starting with the ranks of the presidential party, which unanimously expressed their indignation. "Worse and worse! And now, the family of the President of the Republic. Enough is enough," Renaissance MP Karl Olive said on Twitter, clearly referring to the climate of violence that has been growing against the political class in recent months. Even more since the resignation last week of the mayor of Saint-Brévin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique), whose home was the target of an arson a few weeks ago.

Unanimous condemnation also on the right ("No to terror", reacted the boss of the LR group, Eric Ciotti), and on the side of the extremes. At the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, for example, called for "very severe" sanctions against the alleged perpetrators.

The strange message of Jean-Luc Mélenchon

But it is on the side of the rebellious France, sometimes accused by the elected representatives of the majority of stirring up hatred against them, that the eyes were most turned. No ambiguity in Eric Coquerel, who "absolutely condemns" this attack. The same compassion for the deputy of Amiens François Ruffin: "We do not defend democracy by attacking a chocolatier. I had met the Trogneux family during the Yellow Vest movement, to assure them that hostility against their shop made no sense. I also regularly buy their macaroons, as a wink, when I offer gifts to my political guests, "he said in a statement.

More troubled, however, is the reaction, not really spontaneous, of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, on Twitter: "Commentators indifferent to the attempted murders and racist attacks against Insoumise summon me to pronounce on the aggression in Amiens against the chocolatier Trogneux. I express my sympathy to him and I join my protest to his. I ask Macron and Madame to do the same for our friends attacked or threatened without reserving their solicitude only to Zemmour when he was molested, "he choked, referring to the appeal of support that the president had made in May 2020 to the former journalist, when he was attacked in the street in Paris.

Commentators indifferent to attempted murders and racist attacks against rebels are asking me to comment on the attack in Amiens against the chocolatier Trogneux.

I express my sympathy to him and I join my protest to his. I ask Macron and...

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) May 16, 2023

Just arrived Wednesday evening in Reykjavik (Iceland), on the sidelines of the summit of the Council of Europe, Emmanuel Macron returned to the aggression of his nephew, of which he makes the obvious link with him: "He was attacked because he is close to the family. Violence has no place in democracy," he charged. A few hours earlier, his wife denounced "cowardice, stupidity and violence". The eight individuals arrested will be tried this Wednesday in immediate appearance before the criminal court of Amiens.