Banker-Bashing French Presidential Hopeful Flour-Bombed

As Hollande stood at the podium a woman ran on stage and pelted him with flour, before his aides hauled her to the ground. A visibly shocked Hollande later managed to deliver his speech.

The Socialist candidate is currently the front-runner in the race for the French presidency, and has caused concern in the financial district after he reportedly ‘declared war’ on the City.

Hollande’s election manifesto includes plans to push for an increase of 15% in taxes on banks’ profits, forbid stock options except for start-ups, and ban banks operating in tax havens. Hollande has also said that he will renegotiate the new Eurozone fiscal cmpact, and that he wants to put an end to “toxic products which profit speculators and threaten the real economy”.

His plans have given him a lead in the polls, and in February he will be making a trip to London to garner further support from French ex-pats; and while he has his lead, his rhetoric is unlikely to endear him to many bankers.

Presumably Hollande hopes his assailant has not given him a taste of the welcome he’ll receive should he come across any bankers in the City when he makes his visit.

Read more about Hollande's visit and policies here and here.