PARIS – A member of France’s honor guard fainted Wednesday at the entrance to the Élysée Palace in Paris. The guard was standing in formation next to French President Emmanuel Macron, who was awaiting the arrival of his Slovakian counterpart, Peter Pellegrini , for a state visit. The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media due to the French president’s reaction.
The video shows the guard suddenly beginning to stagger as Macron waited at the palace entrance for Pellegrini, who was approaching and about to ascend the stairs to meet the president. The uniformed officer then loses his balance, falls backward, and hits his back against one of the columns .
The impact drew the attention of those present, including Macron, who rushed over to check on him. The French president moved from his seat and stood for a few seconds beside his security detail while they attended to him. Meanwhile, Pellegrini waited until the first aid was finished before going to greet his counterpart.
Finally, the guard was escorted away by two men to receive assistance elsewhere, and the presidents continued with the protocol as normal. Macron greeted Pellegrini with a hug, and then they entered the palace to continue with their schedule.
The two leaders met for a bilateral meeting to strengthen their strategic partnership and discuss energy security and sovereignty , a key issue on Europe’s agenda. They also addressed the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Pellegrini posted on his social media accounts, sharing photos of his meeting with Macron and expressing his gratitude for the “friendship and partnership.” “We reaffirmed our shared commitment to elevating the strategic partnership between Slovakia and France to an even higher level. Our discussions focused on energy security and sovereignty, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, cooperation in nuclear energy, and the protection of children online,” he stated
“At a time of profound global challenges, Europe needs strong partnerships, unity, and determination. Slovakia and France are ready to work hand in hand for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Europe. Together, let us shape Europe’s future with ambition, solidarity, and trust,” he continued.
This week, officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as NATO and the European Union, traveled to Abu Dhabi to hold meetings on the sidelines of the Ukraine-Russia negotiations on prisoner exchanges and post-war security guarantees.
