Far-right leader Marine Le Pen will attend Brigitte Bardot’s funeral, while President Macron will not. Bardot had supported Le Pen and faced hate speech convictions.
PARIS: Far-right leader Marine Le Pen will attend the funeral of screen icon Brigitte Bardot next week.
A member of Le Pen’s team confirmed her attendance on Tuesday.
President Emmanuel Macron, who hailed Bardot as a “legend”, will not attend the service, according to a source in his office.
Bardot died on Sunday at the age of 91.
The former film star and animal rights activist drew controversy in later life for her anti-immigration views and support for the far right.
She was convicted multiple times for hate speech, including against Muslims.
Bardot backed Marine Le Pen’s presidential campaigns in 2012 and 2017, calling her a modern “Joan of Arc”.
The presidency has offered Bardot’s family a national homage, but they have not yet responded.
Conservative politician Eric Ciotti has called for a national farewell similar to that held for singer Johnny Hallyday.
Socialist party leader Olivier Faure opposes the idea, citing Bardot’s convictions for racism.
Her funeral will be held at a church in her hometown of Saint-Tropez on January 7.
It will be followed by a private burial, with the location undisclosed.
Bardot had previously expressed a wish to be buried in her garden.
Saint-Tropez mayor Sylvie Siri said Bardot’s final wishes were respected but gave no details.
Bardot’s fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, was an advisor to Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Marine Le Pen may be barred from a fourth presidential run in 2027 due to a graft conviction.
Her National Rally party sees a strong chance in the upcoming election as Macron steps down.
Le Pen’s appeal in the corruption case is set to begin in January.
