Death of Robert Badinter: “A figure of the century, a republican conscience, the French spirit”
If there is a name associated with a profound change in French society, it is that of Robert Badinter, architect of the abolition of the death penalty in France in 1981. Lawyer by profession, Minister of Justice under the presidency of François Mitterrand, president of the Constitutional Council, his name is associated with the fights for the defense of justice and fundamental freedoms. The first reactions within the political class and French society as a whole salute the man, his humanism and his deep convictions.
Robert Badinter, Minister of Justice, interviewed at the end of the Council of Ministers on the bill abolishing the death penalty, August 26, 1981, in Paris AFP - MICHEL CLEMENT
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For many, Robert Badinter was seen as a “Sage of the Republic”. Regularly invited to the media to give his opinion on social issues or major political events, or to recall his fight against the death penalty, Robert Badinter was one of the great figures of the French left.
The President of the Republic, while specifying that a “
national tribute would be paid to him
” did not fail to emphasize that he was a “
benchmark for many generations
”, “
a conscience
”. “
The nation has certainly lost a great man, a very great lawyer
”, on the sidelines of a trip to Bordeaux devoted to justice and the police.
Lawyer, Minister of Justice, man for the abolition of the death penalty. Robert Badinter never stopped pleading for the Enlightenment. He was a figure of the century, a republican conscience, the French spirit. pic.twitter.com/3IJ9jekLSd
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 9, 2024
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal salutes “
the man of law and values
”.
All his life, he made the voice of Justice thunder.
Man of law and values.
Lawyer, minister, statesman, Robert Badinter has left us.
From the courtrooms to the stands of the National Assembly and the Senate, and to the Constitutional Council, he will have devoted… pic.twitter.com/cRvchgdqZH
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) February 9, 2024
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, for his part, claims to have “
never encountered another being of this nature
”.
While sitting alongside him in the Senate, I admired Robert Badinter so much! He was a speaker who brought his words to life like poetry. He reasoned while speaking and his strength of conviction was unparalleled. No matter the disagreements. I have never encountered another being...
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) February 9, 2024
Reserves on the right
“
For public opinion, I was the lawyer of the assassins
,” he admitted when talking about his fight against the death penalty. A definitive sentence, but which illustrates how this divisive debate is still underlying in French society and within the French extreme right: 81% of supporters of the National Rally say they are in fact in favor of its reestablishment, as do 51 % of LR supporters, a figure comparable to the general population -, according to the French Fractures study (Ipsos) published in October 2023.
The right-wing political class will therefore hardly miss anyone who constantly denounces the dangers of the extreme right. Marine Le Pen shyly greets the former Minister of Justice, as does the president of the RN, Jordan Bardella.
We might not share all of Robert Badinter's struggles, but this man of convictions was undoubtedly a significant figure in the intellectual and legal landscape. I send my condolences to his wife and family.
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) February 9, 2024
Former Minister of Justice, man of letters, Robert Badinter defended his ideals throughout his life, with constancy and eloquence.
My condolences to his wife Élisabeth and their three children.
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) February 9, 2024
The head of the Republicans, Eric Ciotti, soberly saluted an “
emblematic figure of justice
”, recognizing that “
his fight for the abolition of the death penalty will remain engraved in our memories and our institutions
”.
Also read Death of Robert Badinter, architect of the abolition of capital punishment in France
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