Far-Right French Symbol Jean-Marie Le Pen's Grave Vandalized Three Weeks After Death

The grave of Jean-Marie Le Pen, a figure symbolizing far-right politics in France, was vandalized. This occurred just three weeks after his death at the age of 96.

On January 31 (local time), daily newspaper Le Figaro and others reported that the cross tombstone and memorial tablets at Le Pen's grave in La Trinit?-sur-Mer, western France, were cracked and broken overnight.

Marine Le Pen Yonhap News

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In response, Le Pen's eldest daughter, Marie-Caroline Le Pen, criticized on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "There are no words to describe those who attack the most sacred," and added, "Those who attack the dead can do the worst to the living."

Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally (RN), the successor to the National Front (FN) founded by Le Pen, also stated on X, "Desecrating Le Pen's grave is an unspeakable act committed by people who respect neither the living nor the dead," and expressed hope that "the perpetrators will be severely punished."

Investigators have banned public access to the cemetery and are tracking suspects.

Le Pen was born in 1928 in La Trinit?-sur-Mer, northwestern France. He participated in the Indochina War and the Algerian War of Independence, and after discharge, he was prosecuted for torturing prisoners and admitted to it in a 1962 media interview.

Damaged Tomb of Marine Le Pen [Image source=Captured from Marine Caroline Le Pen X (formerly Twitter)]

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He entered politics after being elected as a member of parliament in 1956 and founded the FN in 1972. With a parliamentary career spanning 47 years, he openly expressed anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, racist, and nationalist views, causing controversy. Because of this, protests welcoming his death were held in many major cities, including the capital Paris.

Le Pen ran for president five times from 1974 to 2007 but was defeated each time. In the first round of the 2002 presidential election, he placed second behind then-candidate Jacques Chirac but only received 17.8% in the runoff. At that time, French national hero and soccer star Zinedine Zidane declared, "If Le Pen becomes president, I will not play for the French national team," becoming a leading figure opposing Le Pen, which attracted attention.

In 2011, he handed over the leadership of the National Front to his youngest daughter and political successor, Marine Le Pen. However, Marine permanently expelled her father from the party in 2015 due to his defense of the Nazis, causing a rift between them. Subsequently, Marine changed the party's name to National Rally in 2018.

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