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The joy of the World Cup did not last half a week. France was under the spell of Benallagate for a few days, a scandal that became Emmanuel Macron's biggest political crisis in less than 24 hours. The problems endanger its French and European reform program, says Stefan de Vries, RTL correspondent. He explains why this situation may not only put Macron at risk but all over Europe
On Wednesday night, the daily Le Monde published an article on the following video in which a police officer of a citizen brutally beat someone & # 39; a. The video was made on May 1st, Labor Day, after the traditional events. The French are so used to police brutality that the film has not really been noticed. But Le Monde discovered the identity of the blower: it's an Alexandre Benalla.
Who is it?
Alexandre Benalla (26) is one of Macron's closest collaborators. He was his bodyguard during the election campaign. Benalla is responsible for the president's safety. As such, he was present on May 1 as a police observer. But the video footage shows that Benalla hits and kicks a man and a woman, gives orders to the riot police, has an alarm tube and wears a police bracelet. He is assisted by another man, who is not a policeman, but is employed by the Macron LREM party. Benalla was a reservist at the gendarmerie, but has no police authority. Yet, he presents himself as a police officer and there are severe penalties.
On May 2, the President and Gerard Collomb, the Minister of the Interior, were informed of Benalla's aggressive behavior. That would have been enough to pull the man. But that did not happen. According to the Elysee Palace, Benalla received two weeks of suspension and was transferred to an administrative post. It should have remained there if it had been the case of the president
Gerard Collomb, the Minister of the Interior. (AFP photo)
What's wrong?
The unveiling of the World now puts Macron in very bad weather. The Benalla case actually consists of at least four cases. It is no longer the collapse of protesters – the French are so accustomed to police brutality that nobody cares – but nothing less than the position of Emmanuel Macron.
Macron as Collomb is aware of Benalla's indiscretion. A French official who is aware of a criminal offense is obliged to report it. This is true even for the president. This did not happen. Especially that last point is a problem. This shows that the President of France considers himself untouchable. That in itself is not new, but around Emmanuel Macron, the myth carefully created by himself hung that he would put an end to this "old world" and create an "exemplary Republic" .
Alexandre Benalla stands behind Macron. (AFP photo)
Secondly, there are the lies or "alternative facts" of the Elysee. There is currently no evidence that Benalla was actually suspended for two weeks and received no salary. There are many photos and videos in which he can clearly be seen next to the President in recent weeks. He was at the parade on July 14, and even sat next Monday at the bus driver in which the national team fought the Champs-Elysees. There was therefore no disciplinary sanction.
Third, (or, his precise status is not clear for the moment), Benalla had a huge list of privileges. For example, he had a car with driver and a gross salary of 7111 euros per month. He also lived two weeks in an official residence, on the chic Parisian Quai Branly, so well after he had his hands restless.
Alexandre Benalla.
Spicy detail: Benalla now lives in the same building as François Mitterrand who has hidden his illegitimate daughter Mazarine for years to the detriment of the taxpayer. He was also recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, on the basis of the Intercession, a rank that, in the military, is reserved only for the forty-year-olds with military experience and diplomas . The police and gendarmerie unions are also furious at the Elysee. Yesterday, Benalla also had a pass to enter the assembly assembly, a privilege that only a very small group has. This is all the more remarkable as the whole building of the assembly is forbidden to the president. The passage was removed yesterday.
Fourth, apparently there is some kind of private militia in Benalla's presidential palace. Now, clandestine combat clubs are an old tradition of the Elysee, but these practices seemed to belong to the past. According to various media, Benalla was also tasked with setting up a private police to protect Macron
What should happen now?
Three judicial inquiries were opened. In addition to Benalla, four suspects were heard. They will be presented to the judge tomorrow. But that does not stop there. Tomorrow, a parliamentary inquiry begins on the case. At 10 am, Gerard Collomb is the first to be questioned, the Minister of the Interior. His position has become untenable, and it is unclear when he will arrive at the end of the day. Brigitte Macron can also be called. The president himself can not be heard because of his immunity.
The big question is this: why does the president of France, one of the most powerful people in the world, continue to protect his 26-year-old confidant? Maybe we will hear the answer in the next few days. If Le Monde had not studied the video, Benalla would have remained in service as a Macrons protégé.
The president and the government are now seriously weakened. The entire government is silent. The Prime Minister would rather ride Friday in a stage of the Tour de France, rather than talk to parliamentarians stunned. The Republic and Marche MPs, Macron's party, do not have the right to speak to the press. Nothing has been heard by the president himself since Friday morning. And while he normally sends about eight tweets a day, he did not tweet for four days
Macron during the Tour de France. (photo AFP)
The network of lies, misdemeanors and dark practices in which the Elysee Palace is entangled can have enormous consequences. Not only for France, but also for Europe. The first victim has already fallen today: the amendment to the Constitution will be discussed in Parliament this week, but it has been suspended indefinitely. This constitutional amendment is one of Macron's most ambitious reforms. Other reforms can wait for the same fate. This means that the Macrons program to get France out of the recession is in danger
Problem for Europe
By journalistic research, not only is France in the nests, but Europe also has a big problem. Macron has played a leading role in the reform of the European Union since taking office. For the moment, there remained ambitious speeches, but in Brussels and in other capitals, he was considered the Messiah who would save the Union. Now that the French president has the same practices as his predecessors, the credibility of "Jupiter" has been seriously affected. France and Europe will have to look for a new lifeguard.
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