Celebrations took place in several French cities following the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen.
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Jean-Marie Le Pen, figure of the French far right, is dead
“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 Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on X Tuesday evening. Hundreds of opponents of Jean-Marie Le Pen gathered in several cities in France with songs, smoke bombs and fireworks, on the evening of the death of this historic figure of the extreme right. “This dirty racist is dead”said in Paris a sign brandished in the crowd of a few hundred people which formed at the start of the evening at Place de la République, and where a few flags of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) flew.
“Youth annoys the National Front”
“Youth annoys the National Front”, chanted participants, some of whom climbed the central statue, while others launched anti-fascist slogans. Some fireworks were set off, like in Lyon, where 200 to 300 people gathered around 7 p.m. in the city center. The ultra-left had called for “partying” after the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, in the words of a publication on the Rebellyon account, on the social network X.
It’s the death of a character we hate, because he was misogynist, racist, Holocaust denier, anti-Semitic and all that.
Louise, student
In Marseille, where between 200 and 300 people gathered in the Old Port, the atmosphere was also festive, between bottles of champagne, little party hats and this sign: “Finally”. “It’s the death of a character that we hate, because he was misogynist, racist, Holocaust denier, anti-Semitic and all that. We must celebrate when such hateful characters die”Louise, a 20-year-old political science student, explained to AFP.
“It’s a symbol that is dying and it’s really good to know that. A symbol of an extreme right that no longer has any meaning today. Unfortunately, it still exists and we must remember that it should not not be alive”said Vivien, a young 24-year-old musician.
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Jean-Marie Le Pen, figure of the French extreme right and finalist in the 2002 presidential election, died Tuesday at the age of 96 in the Paris region, in an establishment where he had been admitted several weeks ago. Massive demonstrations were organized across France in the spring of 2002 against his qualification for the second round of the presidential election which pitted him against Jacques Chirac.
