in the Parisian procession against anti-Semitism, the presence of the National Rally divides

In the crowd of participants in the march against anti-Semitism this Sunday: Marine le Pen, Jordan Bardella and several dozen National Rally elected officials in blue, white and red scarves. They marched at the back of the procession, far behind the ministers and other political parties, but their presence did not leave the demonstrators indifferent.

On several occasions, Marine Le Pen was the target of hostile words: “Get lost, the Jews don’t want you“, launched a group of young left-wing people. Slogan validated by this demonstrator, who does not forget that the founder of the far-right party made anti-Semitic remarks: “There are people who are weather vanes, catch-alls and we must not engage in demagoguery with this important republican principle!”

“The way they have defended the Jews since October 7 touches me”

But the afternoon was much less rowdy than a few years ago during a demonstration for Mireille Knoll during which Marine Le Pen was spit on. Most of the demonstrators seem rather satisfied to see the large RN delegation. Yosi approaches it with a curious look. He says that just a few years ago, he fought the party: “The way they have defended the Jews since October 7 touches me, I appreciate it.”

Proof that the RN is succeeding in its image change, this is also what Marine Le Pen came to seek today. And don’t tell her that she has no place in this event: “We are exactly where we need to be. Our party has demonstrated that we have been able to make absolutely unambiguous choices.” And these “unambiguous choice”, cThis is notably the exclusion of Jean-Marie Le Pen from the party, a rupture that his daughter takes care to point out regularly.