this embarrassing link between the founder of the National Front and a famous pimp from Paris

Died Tuesday January 7, 2025, at the age of 96, the co-founder of the National Front (now National Rally), Jean-Marie Le Pen, long maintained a privileged relationship with the famous Parisian pimpHenri Botey. Nicknamed “the Emperor of Pigalle”, the latter was notably chosen to become the godfather of his daughter, Marine, during her baptism, which took place in the Madeleine church, in 1969.

Media scandal ahead of presidential election

It is an awkward family bondsuddenly recalled to the general public, in the middle of the campaign for the 2012 presidential election. On April 4, 2011, Henri Botey is arrested leaving his apartment in the 9 arrondissement in Paris by police officers from the pimping repression brigade (BRP), then imprisoned in Fleury-Mérogis prison, in Essonne, for “aggravated pimping”.

A matter that will take on a whole new dimension only a few days later. In its edition of Thursday April 14, the newspaper The Parisian pulls a hitherto relatively unknown secret.

Close to the Le Pens, Henri Botey has been, since April 25, 1969, the godfather of the president of the National FrontMarine Le Pen. In the columns of the local press, a retired police officer testifies and recalls, among other things, that the man was “very close to Jean-Marie Le Pen”.

Historical figure of Pigalle

An announcement which obviously had the effect of a bombshell at the time, since this trained baker had a extremely troubled past. Known as “Monsieur Eric” in the nightlife world, Henri Botey started his activities in Pigalle in the 1950s, before becoming a key figure in the 1960s.

It is particularly important two hostess bars and was targeted by several legal proceedings in the 1980s. The “Rase-Mottes” establishments (another of its nicknames) were also the subject of particular attention by the BRP, starting in September 2010. C This is how he was finally caught in the act, in 2011. In the wake of the revelations of the Parisianthe Marine le Pen camp insists that the latter has cut ties for many years with the “Emperor of Pigalle”.

It is a “dubious amalgamation of a person that Marine Le Pen has not seen since childhood”, enrages her press service in a press release… which will struggle to put out the fire. Years later, on June 5, 2013, Henri Botey finally lost life in Tourainein relative solitude.

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