PARIS — A significant memorial service was held on Thursday in central Paris for Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial founder of France’s leading far-right party, who recently passed away at the age of 96.
Over a thousand attendees gathered at Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce church to pay their respects, amidst heightened security measures given Le Pen’s polarizing legacy, which included multiple convictions for antisemitism, discriminatory actions, and incitement of racial violence.
The ceremony, described as a “mass for the repose of the soul,” saw family members, including his daughter Marine Le Pen—currently the prominent figure on the French far-right—along with various officials from the National Rally party and devoted supporters, convening inside the church. The general public was permitted to watch the proceedings through large screens set up outside the venue.
Le Pen’s private funeral took place last week in his seaside hometown of La Trinité-sur-Mer, located in Brittany. His legacy is closely tied to his three daughters, with Marine being the youngest. She took charge of what was formerly known as the National Front during the 2010s, rebranding it as the National Rally, and has transformed it into one of France’s most influential political entities. She is aiming for a run in the upcoming presidential election of 2027.
As family members exited the church following the mass, they were met with applause from the crowds gathered outside. Notably present at the memorial was Eric Zemmour, a right-wing commentator who previously ran against Marine Le Pen in the 2022 presidential race. Zemmour, much like Le Pen, has faced multiple convictions regarding incitement of racial or religious hatred.
Also in attendance was Marion Maréchal, Le Pen’s niece and a current member of the European Parliament. She had previously allied with Zemmour before initiating her own far-right political party last year. Outside the church, Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala, a comedian known for several convictions related to antisemitism, was seen attending the event. He claimed on social media to have received permission from the court to be present despite being under house arrest since May and monitored by an electronic bracelet.
To maintain safety, a significant police presence was deployed around the church as authorities aimed to prevent any potential disturbances. Last week, news of Le Pen’s passing prompted demonstrations in the Place de la République in Paris, where large crowds celebrated his death with chants such as “Happy New Year, Jean-Marie is dead,” echoing similar celebrations in other cities across France, including Lyon and Marseille.
Anti-racism organization SOS Racisme expressed recognition for “generations of activists who dedicated their time, youth, and effort to oppose the National Front and its ideologies.” Le Pen had previously made controversial statements, including a 1987 remark labeling the Nazi gas chambers as merely a “detail in World War II history.” He reiterated this statement in 2015 without remorse, which prompted a public fallout with Marine, who was trying to separate the party’s image from her father’s extreme views, ultimately leading to his expulsion from the party that same year.
