Paris (AP) — More than 1,000 individuals gathered on Thursday in central Paris for a memorial service honoring the late Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s primary far-right party, who passed away at the age of 96 last week.
The solemn “mass for the repose of the soul” was held at the Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce church amidst heightened security measures, reflecting the divisive nature of Le Pen’s legacy. Throughout his life, he faced multiple convictions for offenses including antisemitism, discrimination, and inciting racial violence.
Family members, led by his daughter Marine Le Pen, who now stands as a prominent figure within the far-right movement in France, joined other officials from the National Rally party and longstanding supporters to pay their respects inside the church. The ceremony was also made accessible to the wider public through large screens set up outside the church.
A private funeral was previously conducted in Le Pen’s hometown of La Trinité-sur-Mer in Brittany. Jean-Marie Le Pen, survived by three daughters, notably Marine, the youngest, who later spearheaded the transformation of her father’s National Front into the National Rally during the 2010s, propelling it to a position of significant influence in French politics. She is now setting her sights on the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Following the conclusion of the mass, attendees gathered outside the church and showered Le Pen’s family members with applause as a show of support and remembrance.
Notable figures present at the ceremony included Eric Zemmour, a controversial talk show host known for his far-right views, who had previously contested against Marine Le Pen in the 2022 presidential election. Zemmour, himself a subject of multiple convictions related to incitement of racial or religious hatred, participated in the event. Also in attendance was Marion Maréchal, Le Pen’s niece and currently a member of the European Parliament, who once aligned with Zemmour before launching her own far-right party in the past year.
Additionally, French comedian Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala, a recurring offender convicted for inciting antisemitism and racial hatred, could be seen outside the church. Taking to social media, Dieudonné stated that a court had granted him permission to be present at the ceremony, despite being under house arrest equipped with an electronic monitoring device since May.
To ensure public safety, a substantial police presence was observed in the vicinity of the church, aiming to prevent any potential security breaches during the proceedings.
Last week, the news of Jean-Marie Le Pen’s passing prompted thousands of demonstrators to assemble in Paris’s Place de la République, where they expressed jubilation over the development by dancing and chanting phrases such as “Happy New Year, Jean-Marie is dead.” Similar expressions of sentiment unfolded in cities across France, including Lyon and Marseille.
SOS Racisme, an anti-racism organization, offered a tribute to “
