Should a man slap his wife?

Well, obviously the answer to that question is a big, fat NO.

But it seems that some French politicians don’t know that. And we’re pretty sure, they’re not the only ones.

Quite a furore has erupted over the support given to MP Adrien Quantenns, a senior figure in the radical left La France Insoumise, after his wife filed a complaint against him to the police.

Quartenns said he had slapped his wife “in a context of extreme tension and mutual aggression” and admitted “I profoundly regret this action and I have said sorry many times”.

Unfortunately a former presidential candidate for LFI, Jean-Luc Melenchon, then praised Quatennens for his “dignity and courage” and blamed the police, “media voyeurism”, and social media for intruding on the crumbling marriage. Another LFI MP, Sophia Chikirou, praised Quatennens for his honesty.

The response has angered feminists and anti-domestic violence campaigners in France who say violence is unacceptable.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, or questioning your safety call 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732.

Photo 1: Adrien Quantenns by RTL. Photo2: Jean-Luc Melenchon by The New York Times.