Jean-Marie Le Pen, the historic far-right leader, was laid to rest in his hometown of La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, in a private ceremony attended by approximately 200 guests. The funeral was held under tight security, with around 100 police and gendarmerie officers present to prevent any potential disturbances.
A Family Affair
The funeral was a family affair, with Marine Le Pen, Jean-Marie’s daughter and current leader of the French far-right, in attendance. She was accompanied by her older sister, Marie Caroline, and her niece, Marion Maréchal, a prominent figure in the Catholic ultranationalist movement in France. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN) and Marine Le Pen’s protégé, also attended the ceremony.
A Controversial Figure
Jean-Marie Le Pen was a polarizing figure, known for his provocative and anti-Semitic views. He was convicted several times for hate speech and was accused of practicing torture during the Algerian War of Independence. His death sparked widespread celebrations in several French cities, with thousands of people taking to the streets to mark the occasion.
A Legacy of Division
A survey conducted by Odoxa found that 68% of French people held a negative opinion of Jean-Marie Le Pen. Despite this, he remains a significant figure in French politics, having founded the National Front (FN) in 1972 and paving the way for his daughter Marine to take the reins of the party.
A Final Tribute
A final tribute ceremony will be held in Jean-Marie Le Pen’s honor next Thursday at the church of Notre Dame du Val-de-Grâce in Paris. The ceremony will be open to the press, marking a departure from the private funeral held in La Trinité-sur-Mer.
A Lasting Impact
Jean-Marie Le Pen’s legacy continues to shape French politics, with his daughter Marine poised to make a strong bid for the presidency in 2027. Despite their complicated past, Marine Le Pen has managed to distance herself from her father’s more extreme views, adopting a more moderate stance on social issues while maintaining her father’s Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stance.