French first lady’s relative attacked as Macron doubles down on pension reform

French first lady Brigitte Macron issued a rare statement Tuesday condemning a physical attack on her great-nephew that took place on the sidelines of a demonstration against her husband’s contested pension reform.

Police said eight people were arrested in the northern French city Amiens in connection with the Monday night assault on Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, 30, who runs a family chocolate shop.

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Brigitte Macron called out the assault’s “cowardice, stupidity and violence.”

“I am in full solidarity with my family and have been in touch constantly since 11 p.m. yesterday,” she said. “I have on several occasions denounced this kind of violence that can only lead to the worst.”

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Trogneux was reportedly heading to his apartment above the chocolate shop when he was attacked. His father, Jean-Alexandre Trogneux, said the assailants insulted “the president, his wife and our family” before making an escape.

While giving a speech in Iceland, French President Emmanuel Macron called the violence “unacceptable, and it shocks everyone.”

The president said Monday evening on French TV network TF1 that he would continue with unpopular pension reforms that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The change was the focus of months of antigovernment protests.