French officials have condemned jubilant street celebrations following the death of far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, urging dignity after hundreds gathered in major cities to mark Tuesday’s passing of the controversial National Front founder.
The government struck a measured tone in response to the death of Le Pen, who was expelled from his own party after repeatedly denying the Holocaust – with Prime Minister François Bayrou describing him as a “fighter” and a “figure of French political life”.
