Three protesters against Macron could go to jail for giving the president the middle finger

More On: Macron

Macron Declares ‘France Is Under Attack’ after Islamist Terrorist Kills Three Churchgoers | National Review

Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the war of words

The French government has stated that they will go after three anti-Macron protesters who are accused of giving the middle finger to the troubled president.

Reports from French media say that two men and one woman could be charged with a crime by French officials for giving the middle finger to President Emmanuel Macron.

The three are said to have broken a strict law in the country that says you can't say things that "affect the personal dignity or the respect owed to a public official." This is said to have happened when Macron was touring the country earlier this week to try to win back the public's favor.
Paris deploys thousands of cops to mass anti-Macron protest
According to a story by BFMTV, prosecutors say that all three people have admitted to making the gesture that was said to be aimed at the President during his trip to Sélestat earlier this week. None of the three people have been convicted of a crime before. In September, they will all go to court.
According to La Chaine Info, the French Criminal Code has harsh punishments for this kind of crime, including a fine of 15,000 euros and up to a year in jail.

Macron Hounded by Protesters During First Public Appearance After Signing Pension Reforms https://t.co/MBHlXYcKwQ

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) April 20, 2023

This is not the first time that the French government has gone after a member of the public for insulting Macron. A woman who compared the President to trash on social media got in trouble with the law.

The woman is said to have been arrested by three police officers who showed up at her home because of a post she made online. The post showed her standing in front of graffiti that made fun of Macron, which officials now say she made herself.

The woman denies this claim. If a French court finds her guilty of insulting Macron, she could get up to €15,000 in fines and a year in jail.

In the UK, a man who is thought to have taken part in anti-Macron protests in France has also been held under an anti-terrorism law, which has angered people both in the UK and around the world.

Ernest Moret, a French publisher with left-wing views, was held soon after he got off the train in London. He was officially arrested the next day because police say he refused to give them his cell phone and passwords when they asked him to.

What Jihadis? Outrage After UK Police use Terrorism Laws to Arrest French Publisher Over Anti-Macron Protests https://t.co/GSVTgfIQQn

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) April 19, 2023

This last case has caused a lot of anger around the world, so bringing charges against the three Sélestat protesters is probably the last thing President Macron needs right now.

Already in trouble because of ongoing protests, the French leader has started a tour of his country to try to win back the support of the French people, who have turned violently against him in recent weeks because he raised the retirement age by two years.

Tens of thousands stage anti-Macron protest in Paris - EgyptToday
Macron's support is now at its lowest point ever, with just a little more than a quarter of the country liking him.

At the same time, the right-wing populists in France have become more popular, and polls show that Marine Le Pen would win the presidency if France had an election tomorrow.