“He heroically braves ridicule,” wrote Jean Cau de Mitterrand. If it were only that… Manuel Bompard, Mathilde Panot and with them their rebellious comrades begin a fight of a completely different nature. Five of the families of victims of the October 7 attack in Israel added to their pain that of having to ask the President of the Republic not to invite to the ceremony honoring the 42 French people murdered by Hamas scheduled for Wednesday February 7 in the courtyard of the Invalides, the leaders of rebellious France. Their presence as “an insult”. Should we remember that the latter refused – and persist – to qualify Hamas as a terrorist organization? Should we recall the refusal to march on November 12 expressed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Israel-Palestine without calling for a ceasefire? Should we recall the sneers of LFI MP Ersilia Soudais when discussing the drama of October 7?
Should we remember, finally, that Mathilde Panot, announcing her arrival, added: “I believe that we must pay tribute […] to the Franco-Israelis and the Franco-Palestinians who died, whether in war crimes committed by Hamas or in war crimes committed by Netanyahu”?
To the missive addressed to Emmanuel Macron by these families, the response could only be formal. Olivier Jaoui, at the initiative of the letter, did not imagine anything else, he who, in an interview with Point, confided: “It is highly probable that the Élysée will be subject to a strict protocol and must invite all parliamentary groups.”
“It is up to the political leaders concerned to know whether their presence is appropriate.”
Decree of September 13, 1989 relating to public ceremonies obliges, deputies (and senators) are, in fact, invited without distinction to the ceremonies. But to this instruction, an advisor to Emmanuel Macron does not hesitate to add: “When a clear wish is expressed by the families of the victims, it is up to the political leaders concerned to know whether their presence is appropriate.”
Obviously not overcome by doubt, Manuel Bompard declared this Sunday, without jumping: “The President of the Republic has decided to organize a national tribute to which we are invited. So if we do not go, you will then reproach for not sharing the pain and emotion of the victims’ families.” Very healthy motivations for a tribute.
Of course: turning away from a moment of national communion, not sharing the pain and the thoughts of and for these French families, being elected to the Republic and thus remaining on the margins of the evils and the fraternity which in this moment crosses… unthinkable. Untenable. Indecent presence but culpable absence, one would be tempted to conclude. Isn’t this a bit too hasty to forget the battles of the time fought with force, and often with anger, by these same rebels? Two words count in their ranks, and we should rejoice: consent and victim. Above everything. Today, the families of the victims do not consent to the arrival of these elected officials, and François Ruffin, salutarily, affirms: “Parents who cry for their children have all the rights.” But What do Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s friends say to them? That it is “only four families”, according to Bompard. Precisely five expressed their discomfort to the head of state, but how many are saddened by the presence of rebellious France on Wednesday? No doubt Jean Cau would have thought that it is the shame that the Rebels will heroically brave this February 7.
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