Paris (AFP)

Taking up Alphonse de Lamartine, the President of the National Assembly Richard Ferrand called on Tuesday to "welcome the memory of Napoleon + with meditation, but without fanaticism +", on the eve of the commemoration of the bicentenary of his death which is controversial.

"Let us know not to reduce big dates and big men to small slogans", asked Mr. Ferrand in a short speech before questions to the government.

"Let us know how to look at our past with measure and discernment", he added.

Mr. Ferrand, however, admitted that "the reestablishment of slavery alone seriously tarnishes his memory".

Abolished in 1794 by the Convention, the Emperor reestablished slavery in 1802.

The president of the Assembly also denounces "the man of 18-Brumaire who jostled the Parliament" by signing the end of the political regime of the Directory and that of the French Revolution.

But Richard Ferrand salutes some of the many creations of Napoleon Bonaparte, the high schools, the Court of Auditors, the Council of State, the Legion of Honor, the Civil Code etc.

"No one reigns innocently, no one reforms a country without making enemies," observed this historical macronist.

As part of the commemorations around the death of the emperor who died on May 5, 1821 in exile on the island of Sainte-Hélène, Mr. Ferrand has the documents kept at the Palais-Bourbon displayed at the Library of the National Assembly, like his letter of abdication and the plan of his tomb.

Wednesday, on the anniversary of the death of the one who has never ceased to unleash passions, Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech at the Institut de France in Paris, in which he will "look in the face" at the legacy left by the 'emperor.

Two hundred years after his death, the figure of the revolutionary general or the emperor continues to cause controversy among the deputies.

The president of RN Marine Le Pen estimated on RTL that he was "one of the great historical figures" and regretted "that the President of the Republic commemorates him in a hurry".

"It has meanings to make official commemorations. There is something behind, values ​​that we want to put forward. I am more in favor of doing a work of history and historians", on the contrary argued the Communist deputy Pierre Dharréville.

"It's good to commemorate" but we "must not seek to hide the devastation that (s) these wars have made", nor obscure the reestablishment of slavery, "a shadow on the board", according to Olivier Becht ( To act).

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