It was today that France paid a final tribute to Robert Badinter. The lawyer and former Minister of Justice who initiated the abolition of the death penalty died on February 9 and the national tribute was held at Place Vendôme in Paris, where the Ministry of Justice is located. “ Your name must be registered in the Pantheon », Launched Emmanuel Macron during the funeral eulogy of the former Minister of Justice.
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The name of Robert Badinter “ must register » at the Pantheon, « alongside those who have done so much for human progress and for France », Announced Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday during the tribute to the former Minister of Justice. “ You are leaving us at a time when your old adversaries, oblivion and hatred, seem to be advancing again », Launched the President of the Republic from Place Vendôme, headquarters of the Ministry of Justice where the former socialist minister carried out the abolition of the death penalty. He greeted Robert Badinter “ a force that lives and snatches life from the hands of death “.
Emmanuel Macron had promised to express himself, in his speech, on a possible entry of the lawyer, died last week at the age of 95, at the Pantheonthis republican temple which proclaims on its pediment “To great men, the grateful homeland”.
And Robert Badinter was good “ a great man », the president agreed on Friday after the announcement of the death of the former minister (1981-1986). “ These things take time “, he nevertheless underlined. “ It is first up to the family, in their freedom, to take the time they deem necessary to make a decision. », Emmanuel Macron’s entourage explained on Tuesday.
Place Vendôme, a symbolic place
The first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure officially made the request to the Head of State. “ It is legitimate » because in the Pantheon they are “ great men who brought great ideas », Estimated Wednesday on franceinfo the president of the Constitutional Council Laurent Fabius, a position occupied by Robert Badinter from 1986 to 1995.
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The Élysée, in consultation with the family, chose a symbolic place to pay tribute to the memory of Robert Badinter: Place Vendôme, in front of the chancellery, where several thousand people have come since Saturday to pay homage to him. A giant portrait of Robert Badinter was installed in front of the ministry. It was there that François Mitterrand’s minister drafted the law abolishing the death penalty, in a France then predominantly in favor of the supreme punishment.
(With AFP)
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