Former French PM Valls slapped in campaign tour: reports

Ex-French prime mister Manuel Valls was slapped by a young man during a campaign visit to north France on Tuesday as a candidate for the left primary of the presidential election, according to local reports.

A video broadcast by local media showed Valls came out from Lamballe city hall and shook hands with a group of people, among them a youth who caught him a light slap in the face before being seized by security guards.

The 19-year-old man was arrested and placed into custody on charges of "violence against a person having public authority," the news channel BFMTV said in its report.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident, Valls said "I have never been afraid of having contact with French people whatever their opinions. Democracy can never mean violence."

Valls has been the polls' favourite to win the left ticket and challenge the conservative candidate Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen, head of far-right National Front party.

However, he was losing momentum after two televised debates that offered a boost to ex-economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, days ahead the competition's first round.

According to the country's pollsters, the Socialist winner of the Jan. 22 and 29 primary elections has a little chance of making it to the run-off round of the presidential election in May. Endit