France’s Right is in mourning after the death of “courageous” National Rally (RN) founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, on January 7.
While politicians from rival right-wing parties have expressed their condolences regarding his passing, those on the Left have taken to social media to mock the late politician.
RN leader Jordan Bardella was one of the first to react to Le Pen’s passing, describing him as someone who had always fought for the French nation.
Jean-Marie Le Pen est mort.
Engagé sous l’uniforme de l’armée française en Indochine et en Algérie, tribun du peuple à l’Assemblée nationale et au Parlement européen, il a toujours servi la France, défendu son identité et sa souveraineté.
Je pense aujourd’hui avec tristesse à…
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) January 7, 2025
“Enlisted in the uniform of the French army in Indochina and Algeria, tribune of the people in the National Assembly and the European Parliament, he always served France, defended its identity and its sovereignty,” he wrote on X.
“Today I am thinking with sadness of his family, his loved ones and of course of [his daughter] Marine whose mourning must be respected.”
Bardella was joined by Reconquête leader Eric Zemmour, with the sometimes bitter rivalry between the two parties not preventing him from expressing his admiration of Le Pen.
“Beyond the controversies, beyond the scandals, what we will remember about him in the coming decades is that he was among the first to alert France to the existential threats that awaited it,” he said.
“He will remain the vision of a man, and his courage, at a time when courageous men were not so numerous.”
Members of the Identité Libertés party meanwhile described the deceased as being a man “of a clairvoyance, a courage and a combativeness that was out of the ordinary”.
“France loses a very great man. Farewell President,” they added on social media.
Economist Jean Messiha described Le Pen as “one of the most lucid personalities of the Fifth Republic”, although he expressed disappointment at his “anti-Semitic outbursts, caused the national camp to lose 30 years”.
“He will remain in the national memory as a courageous but controversial man. Thoughts and condolences to his family and loved ones,” Messiha added.
Those on the French Left were less inclined to extend sympathies, with many instead mocking his death.
JEAN-MARIE LE PEN EST MORT !!! pic.twitter.com/cg6I0os68Y
— Ewen 🇵🇸🔻 (@ewenlouer) January 7, 2025
“It’s crazy, wishes work!,” wrote French hard-left politician Philippe Poutou.
“The year 2025 is not starting too badly with this good news of the death of Le Pen, a racist, a colonialist, a fascist, a torturer, a murderer, a homophobe, etc … but it changes nothing in the united antifascist fight that must be carried out urgently.”
Others opted to post memes of people or animals dancing, often celebrating Le Pen’s death in capped letters.
Some French MPs instead emphasised their distaste for his politics and continued desire to fight against the country’s growing Right.
“Respect for the dignity of the dead and the grief of their loved ones does not erase the right to judge their actions. Those of Jean-Marie Le Pen remain unbearable,” leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon wrote.
“The fight against the man is over. The fight against the hatred, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism that he spread continues.”
Another Left MP, Louis Boyard, described Le Pen as someone who “deserves no tribute”.
“All his life he spat on exiles, women, Muslims, Jews, LGBT people. Our thoughts must go to the people he hated. Let’s continue the fight so that his ideology follows him to his grave.”
In neighbouring Belgium, the leader of the Wallonia region Paul Magnette used Le Pen’s passing to attack right-wing news outlet CNews.
“Jean-Marie Le Pen is dead. Alas, his ideas are more alive than ever and X, like CNews, have become their main channels of dissemination,” he said.
“We are alive and well and we will continue to fight them.”
A TikTok influencer who goes by the pseudonym ‘Zazouyoucef’ has been accused of calling for the shooting of opponents of the Algerian regime in France. https://t.co/nuV9c0asYA
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 3, 2025
