Being rude to the French president is no longer an offence after parliament amended legislation dating back to 1881 in favour of freedom of speech.
Previously any rude remark risked a fine and criminal conviction for "offending the head of state". But the change was pushed through after criticism from the European court of human rights.
In March, the court ruled that France had violated the right to freedom of expression after giving a criminal conviction to a man holding a cardboard sign telling the then-president Nicolas Sarkozy to get lost.
Hervé Eon, 61, a left[-]wing activist, held up his sign as Sarkozy's motorcade drove past during a presidential visit to Laval, western France, in 2008. The small A4-sized cardboard sign did not feature Sarkozy's name but said simply: "Casse-toi pov'con." » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Thursday, July 25, 2013
