rallies of opponents took place in several cities in France

Festive demonstrations took place on Tuesday in Paris, Lyon and Marseille in particular, bringing together opponents of Jean-Marie Le Pen, who died the same day. The Minister of the Interior disapproved of “scenes of jubilation”.

They gathered to celebrate the death of the founder of the National Front. Several hundred opponents of Jean-Marie Le Pen gathered on Tuesday evening, January 7, in several cities in France to celebrate, with songs, smoke bombs and fireworks, the death of this historic figure of the extreme right .

In Paris, at least a thousand people, “often young”, gathered at Place de la République, according to a France Inter journalist present on site. With smoke bombs, bottles of champagne and anti-fascist slogans, the demonstrators responded in particular to calls from the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) and the collective “Les inverti.es” for, according to the people cited by France Inter, “celebrate above all the death of a symbol more than the death of a man”. “Youth annoys the National Front”participants also chanted.

In Lyon, up to 600 people, depending on the prefecture, gathered in the city center. The rally took place at the initiative of the ultra-left in order to “party” after the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, as stated in the appeal launched on the Rebellyon account on the atmosphere was also festive, between bottles of champagne, little party hats and this sign: “Finally”. In Strasbourg, an undeclared demonstration was dispersed by the police.

These gatherings caused the Minister of the Interior to react. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies dancing on a corpse. The death of a man, even a political opponent, should only inspire restraint and dignity. These scenes of jubilation are simply shameful”commented Bruno Retailleau on X.

Eric Ciotti, ally of the National Rally since June 2024, also denounced these demonstrations. “The images that come back to us from Place de la République are nauseating,” wrote the deputy of the Union of Rights for the Republic on X. “By celebrating the death of a man, the far left shows its true face, that of hatred, resentment and inhumanity.he estimated.