New controversy after comments by the leader of the LFI deputies Mathilde Panot, who had already moved at the beginning of July by qualifying Elisabeth Borne as “survivor”. “80 years ago, the collaborationists of the Vichy regime organized the Vel d’Hiv roundup. Do not forget these crimes, today more than ever, with a President of the Republic who honors Pétain and 89 deputies RN”tweeted Saturday July 16 Mathilde Panot, arousing indignation in the political class.
“Beyond the shame. We dare not believe it. Remove this message and apologize to France, quickly”tweeted the Minister Delegate for Transport, Clément Beaune.
Beyond shame.
We dare not believe it.
Remove this message and apologize to France, quickly. https://t.co/d5Le1E6KzS— Clement Beaune (@CBaune) July 16, 2022
“It is unworthy of the memory of the victims, it is a daughter of hidden children who tells you”also tweeted the former Minister of Ecology Elisabeth Wargon.
In the rest of the political class too, the words of Mathilde Panot shocked. “Excess, indecency, ignorance, rebellious France crosses the red line more and more every day which brings it closer to the precipice”tweeted Sébastien Chenu, deputy RN and vice-president of the National Assembly.
Excess, indecency, ignorance, the @FranceInsoumise every day crosses more the red line which brings it closer to the precipice. Fortunately, the French will never entrust the keys of the country to these extremists https://t.co/pUP3vWmICS
— Sebastien Chenu (@sebchenu) July 16, 2022
The words of the leader of LFI could have been considered awkward, including within her camp. “When we are legitimately offended by risky and insulting equivalences, we ourselves refrain from giving in to them”estimated the deputy Nupes Jérôme Guedj, estimating that “producing controversy serves the cause”.
When we are legitimately offended by risky and insulting equivalences, we ourselves abstain from yielding to them. So in the same way as LFI≠RN, Macron≠Pétain.
And especially on a day of commemoration and therefore of national unity, producing controversy serves the cause— Jerome Guedj (@JeromeGuedj) July 16, 2022
In 2018, Immanuel Macron called Pétain a “great soldier” during the First World War, although he later “leads to fatal choices”. Elected officials from the National Rally were also invited, by republican tradition, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Rafle du Vel d’Hiv, detailed the Elysée, without specifying whether they would be present.