Video: Sarkozy's poll rival is hit by flour power
A WOMAN who claims she is being watched by police and that her life has been threatened dumped flour on the leading candidate in France's presidential elections during a campaign appearance yesterday.
The woman -- who later identified herself to TV cameras as 45-year-old Claire Seguin -- ran up to the podium where Socialist Francois Hollande stood to sign a "social contract" in favour of housing for all.
Mr Hollande, who has consistently led polls, well ahead of President Nicolas Sarkozy, remained calm throughout the incident, though his glasses, hair and suit were covered in white.
He was hustled off the stage, and when he spoke to reporters afterward, he stayed on point, discussing the importance of housing reform.
A police official later confirmed that Ms Seguin was carrying a kilogramme of flour at the time and is in police custody.
The bodyguards who carried her off the stage later let her speak briefly to a few journalists before taking her away. She shouted into their cameras that she had been the victim of an unspecified injustice and that the Socialists were trying to kill her.
A spokeswoman for Mr Hollande, told French TV channel BFM that the incident was isolated and committed by a woman who appeared unstable.
- Sarah Di Lorenzo in Paris
Irish Independent
