Pressure on Macron as disgraced aide defends 'lending police a hand'

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French President Emmanuel Macron was under mounting pressure Monday over a scandal sparked by his former top security aide, who has insisted he was trying to help police when he was filmed manhandling demonstrators at a violent Paris protest.

France's interior minister and the Paris police chief both defended their handling of the burgeoning scandal, telling a parliamentary commission it was up to Macron's office to respond after videos emerged of Alexandre Benalla hitting a protester.

French president Emmanuel Macron (L, C) flanked by Elysee senior security officer Alexandre Benalla (R,C) visits the 55th International Agriculture Fair (Salon de l'Agriculture) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, February 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

Dubbed "Benallagate", the affair has prompted opposition claims of an attempted cover-up and paralyzed parliamentary debate.

Benalla, 26, was charged Sunday with assault and impersonating a police officer over the videos of him wrestling with two protesters on May 1 while wearing a riot officer's helmet and police armband.

It is unclear how Benalla obtained the equipment, since he was only supposed to be attending the protest as an observer.

On Monday Benalla said the young man and woman he was filmed scuffling with were "particularly virulent individuals" whom he had been trying to "bring under control" while "lending a hand" to police.

"This personal initiative... is obviously being used to tarnish the president in circumstances that defy comprehension," his lawyers said in a statement.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is questioned by lawmakers at the National Assembly about presidential aide Alexandre Benalla, July 23, 2018. /VCG Photo

He insisted that his action was "vigorous but without violence and caused no injury."

'Macron knows everything'

Speaking before a parliamentary commission, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb and Paris police chief Michel Delpuech both said they learned of a video of Benalla circulating on social media on May 2, the day after the protest.

Asked why he did not report the incident to prosecutors, Delpuech said he considered it was up to Macron's office to respond.

Collomb also said it was up to Benalla's superiors in Macron's office either to inform prosecutors or impose any punishment.

June 20, 2017: Elysee senior security officer Alexandre Benalla appears in the background as French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb (R) attend a dinner organized by the French Council of the Muslim Faith in Paris. /VCG Photo

Benalla was suspended for two weeks without pay in May, but it was not clear why prosecutors were not informed of the video and alleged violence.

Lawmakers in both houses of parliament are investigating the affair, with Macron's office director Patrick Strzoda due to appear at the Senate on Wednesday and his chief of staff Alexis Kohler on Thursday.

Political opponents have also called on the president himself to face a grilling.

His former Socialist presidential rival Benoit Hamon said in a video on Twitter that Macron must appear before lawmakers because "all this revolves around him".

"Macron knows everything. He must be questioned," far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon added in a tweet.

Macron has yet to speak publicly on the most damaging scandal since he was elected last year on a promise to restore integrity to government.

France's Interior Minister Gerard Collomb appears before the Law Commission of the lower house of parliament, July 23, 2018, in Paris. /VCG Photo

He has called off a scheduled appearance on Wednesday at the Tour de France cycling race, though aides insist the cancellation was unrelated to the case.

Source(s): AFP