When midday strikes this Wednesday, Place Vendôme plunges into silence.
The coffin appears, covered with a French flag, carried by the Republican Guard.
Robert Badinter, who disappeared on the night of February 8 to 9, leaves the Ministry of Justice one last time, which he occupied as Keeper of the Seals from 1981 to 1986. The place of this last national tribute, where an immense portrait of the former minister, is unusual.
The Invalides, customarily chosen for national tributes, were this time abandoned, as a symbol.
Some 600 guests, political figures or those close to the famous lawyer, were invited.
Former president François Hollande, lawyer Richard Malka, author of a comic strip on the history of the Badinter family, philosopher Alain Finkielkraut, who confides that he is there above all
"for Elisabeth"
(Badinter, the philosopher's wife of late, Editor's note), or even the former Minister of Culture Jack Lang, who confides his
“emotion” to us.
MoDem deputy Jean-Louis Bourlanges also says he is
“deeply moved”
.
“We had a fairly strong personal relationship with Robert Badinter,”
confides the man who had lunch with the deceased two months earlier and greets, with a sad smile on his lips, this
“extraordinary colleague, full of anecdotes”
, who
“passed from the extreme seriousness with humor
.
LFI deputies Éric Coquerel and Caroline Fiat are also present, deliberately discreet.
Because the family has made it known that it does not want either the National Rally or rebellious France.
“I am president of the Finance Committee, I also come for my institution
,” the first explains before sneaking in with his cardboard.
From homosexuality to anti-Semitism
On the other side of Place Vendôme, a crowd of all ages crowds together in the light rain.
Among them, many former magistrates or lawyers, like Jean, who was 20 years old when Robert Badinter delivered his famous speech against the death penalty to the National Assembly in 1981.
“It was a powerful moment,”
he recalls. he says, a bit nostalgic at the memory of this speaker whom he considers
“well above”
the politicians he worked with.
The coffin leaves the Ministry of Justice, carried by the Republican Guard.
POOL / REUTERS
French President Emmanuel Macron greets the widow of the deceased, Elisabeth Badinter.
POOL / REUTERS
Anne, of American origin, does not only remember her fight for abolition from the former Minister of Justice.
“That’s not what I admire most about him
,” explains the woman who grew up in the United States, where the death penalty is still applied.
“I like his universal thinking, his ability to ask questions, to question
. ”
Others talk about his fight for the decriminalization of homosexuality.
Still others, the fight against anti-Semitism led by the brilliant lawyer, whose father was arrested during a raid in Lyon and murdered in an extermination camp in Poland.
“When part of your family burned at Auschwitz, you have to be there
,” explains Paul, 87, when asked the reason for his presence.
“My presence doesn’t matter to anyone, but to me, a lot,”
assures the Parisian leaning on his cane.
In the crowd a few yarmulkes appear.
The Grand Rabbi of France, Haïm Korsia, is also present in the VIP tent.
Younger people also wanted to be present, out of admiration for this man whom they studied in class, heard on the airwaves or read about through his works.
Sabrina, 18, arrived two hours early at Place Vendôme.
“It was he who made me want to choose lawyers
,” confides the law student at La Sorbonne.
At the age of 13, she began reading the famous lawyer's books.
She particularly remembers
The Execution
or her famous pleading on the death penalty.
“That’s what inspired me,”
she says
.
“He did a double degree in Letters in addition to law, I chose to do the same thing with philosophy.”
To follow in his footsteps.
“A legacy”
Beethoven's 7th symphony resonates on the square where the coffin is placed.
On the giant screen, photographs by Robert Badinter
appear, retracing the great moments of his life.
An extract from La Grande Librairie sounded over the speakers, when Bernard Pivot asked Badinter what he would like to hear from God on the day of his death.
It was in 1995. After a moment of hesitation, the defender of abolition replied:
“You did what you could.
Between."
The silence is still significant when Emmanuel Macron speaks.
“Robert Badinter.
The Republic made man.
Life against death
,” proclaims the head of state in front of the moved crowd.
“The dead listen to us.
Robert Badinter, you are now listening to us and looking at us.
Moral conscience that nothing erases, not even death.
And you are leaving us at a time when your old adversaries, forgetfulness and hatred, seem to be advancing again.
Your ideals, our ideals are threatened, warns the president.
So I vow to be faithful to your oaths and your commitment.”
Emmanuel Macron speaks at Place Vendôme for the national tribute to Robert Badinter.
LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
The presidential speech is followed by long applause.
“Right”
words ,
salutes Françoise, 65 years old, a statement of
“sobriety that he would have wanted”
, adds Samuel, 25 years old, doctoral student who corresponded with Robert Badinter.
“The president did not seek to draw on ideology, or take over a life that is not his.
I am grateful to him
,” he emphasizes.
“It was difficult to evoke the totality of such a dense life.
But the essential has been said
,” concludes Florent, readjusting his tweed jacket.
“It’s a sadness to lose a landmark
,” confides Françoise.
“Badinter obliges us.
He urges us to fight for peace, fraternity - and in these times, it is more necessary than ever
,” breathes the sixty-year-old.
At his side, Jade, 27, mourns this
“beautiful figure of the left”
.
But the young socialist refuses to talk about loss.
“It’s a legacy.
A heritage.
The body leaves, but its memory remains.”