Spain’s prime minister punched in face on campaign trail (Video)

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been punched in the face during a campaign event for Sunday’s general election in his home region of Galicia.

Police say the individual who punched him was 17 years old and was arrested on the scene. Rajoy began to fall after the hit but was stopped from hitting the ground by a crowd of people who caught him.

Rajoy was not seriously hurt during the attack in Pontevedra in his home region of Galicia but later appeared with a red mark on his face.

Rajoy sent a message on Twitter, saying: “I’m fine, and on the way to a rally in Coruna.”

The youngster raised his hands and thumbs into the air in an apparent victory sign as he was arrested.

Development Minister Ana Pastor confirmed the assault in a tweet, telling Mr Rajoy she had no words “to express my indignation for the aggression you suffered on the streets of Pontevedra.”

Rajoy’s ruling People’s Party is expected to win the election, even though it has presided over one of the worst economic slumps in decades. But it may fall short of the parliamentary majority it has enjoyed since 2011.

Spain has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the European Union, with almost half of all job-seekers under 25 unable to find work.

Agencies/Canadajournal