Interview of the former bodyguard commet Macron – World

For several months, public opinion suffered a first shock at what appeared to be just another video proving the proverbial brutality of the French police: on the sidelines of the outbreak of the 1st May an agent, or at least one of them as such, overthrew a harmless young man and started beating him. He did it in front of other police officers who did not participate in the blows, but took no initiative to stop it.

The next day, May 2, the staff of President Emmanuel Macron knew more than the public opinion. He knew, in particular, that the "agent" was not a real policeman, but a police officer in abusive uniform. Worse, he knew that the impostor was himself responsible for the safety of the president.

And, knowing all this, the presidency punished Benalla with a suspension of fifteen days, without expiry, but also without loss of money (the compensation with license days not taken until then). And then it was business as usual : Benalla recovered all his functions and even got more stewardship, as he intended to compensate him. by punishment.

More than two months later, Le Monde revealed what seemed destined to remain a state secret – the identity of the author of the assaults (as well as Vincent Crase, who accompanied and served in the safety of the president). And he also revealed the attempt to stifle the scandal by the authorities.

The trial of the parliamentary hearings followed, with the Minister of the Interior, the mayor of the police and the president's staff chief pushing one for l & # 39; Benalla's other responsibility to have been punished with surprising gentleness and that there had been no communication to the Attorney General's office of these facts with obvious criminal relevance.

Emmanuel Macron finally broke his long silence, asserting that all responsibility rested on himself and no one else. But the theatricality of the late gesture does not erase his attempt to belittle what has happened like a "storm in a glass of water," nor the various issues that remain unresolved.

A compromising interview for Macron

Benalla, after the suspension and return to normalcy of his duties, was dismissed, detained for questioning, released on bail and awaiting the conclusion of the trial and trial. His brilliant rise in the services of the presidency has certainly ended.

In an interview with JDD yesterday, Benalla begins by denying the assault against the young man present at the time of the protest: according to him, he simply threw him to the ground, but did not l? did not hit. He said: "It was vigorous, I admit, I am impulsive, but I am not violent."

Benalla, 26, tells the story of his childhood, the immigration of his mother from Morocco to France, and the contact he gave at the age of 15 years with the Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy asking him for experience in an elite police unit. Sarkozy allowed him to experience for three days.

Benalla later remembers how the American film The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner inspired his dream of being the bodyguard of the president. He says he saw the film "about 20 times or something". And he also saw In the Line of Fire in which Clint Eastwood played a similar role. Apparently he saw too many American movies. And studied diligently to make this career.

On her relationship with Macron, Benalla qualifies her in the interview as "cordial but respectful". And he adds: "There was no familiarity, I was at his service, he trusted me, not knowing much about me, I hope, I believe, that he was not a good friend. he did not regret it. "

Since his election, Macron had Benalla at the helm of his security. Most interesting in the interview, Benalla admits Macron's knowledge of May Day aggression from the 15-day suspension. According to Benalla, the president called him aside and told him, "You made a big mistake and I'm disappointed, I feel betrayed, you're punished, it's normal." trust you, but you have to accept it. "

Benalla also says that he offered his resignation. But he was told that it was not accurate. And I conclude: "I face all of this as a challenge, I know that I will come out of here harder, I can live with my conscience, I know what I've done and what I have not done, I know that there are liars ".