The presence of “rebellious” elected officials is controversial
Wednesday’s meeting found itself at the heart of a political controversy, several families of victims having requested, in a letter to the Head of State, that the presence of La France insoumise (LFI) be “prohibited” at Les Invalides, notably because of its refusal to qualify Hamas as a group “terrorist”.
The Elysée responded on Monday that it was a “republican ceremony” to which, according to the protocol in force since 1989, parliamentarians are invited. “It’s up to everyone to assess the appropriateness or not of their presence since the families spoke out and expressed strong emotion”however, estimated an advisor to the president, referring the decision of their visit to the elected representatives of LFI.
“I want to say here solemnly that the controversies must stop when the entire nation pays homage to the dead”, declared Tuesday the head of the “rebellious” deputies, Mathilde Panot, during a press conference. Like all parties, the elected representatives of his group “was invited to this tribute by the President of the Republic”she added.
The LFI delegation which will attend the ceremony at Les Invalides will be made up of Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of the movement, Caroline Fiat, vice-president of the Assembly, Eric Coquerel, president of the finance committee and Mathilde Panot.