“He is the antithesis of humanity”, denounced the Mayor of Verdun, on the Meuse

Nancy’s administrative court authorized the religious ceremony as “honor to Marshal Pétain.” Samuel Hazard, mayor of Verdun, expressed his anger to franceinfo on Friday.

“I am surprised”stated Friday 14 November in franceinfo Samuel Hazard, various leftist mayor of Verdun, on the Meuse, after the administrative court of Nancy permitted the religious ceremony planned for Saturday 15 November in Verdun “in honor of Marshal Pétain and his army”proved his guilt to the mayor who had banned him by decree.

“Tonight, I have difficulty accepting this decision, because I do not accept that today we can still honor the memory of Marshal Pétain who was the antithesis of humanity”denounced the mayor. Association to Defend the Memory of Marshal Pétain (ADMP) for this mass initiative. “Until now he organizes private masses”explained Samuel Hazard. But this time “he publicized this mass for political purposes”he continued. “We can clearly see the context of the rise of racism, anti-Semitism and hatred of others”added the Mayor of Verdun.

Saturday at 10 am. “he will be in front of the Church of Saint-Jean Baptiste to prevent this mass, with many citizens”he said. Samuel Hazard believes that they are responsible for the association “against the laws of the Republican Party and they deny history, because Pétain is a denial of humanity”he taunted.

“Verdun’s hero is not Pétain”he recalled. “It was the soldiers of Verdun who were the heroes”he explained. “A soldier of all religions, including Jews”he confirmed. “That is universality”underlined the Mayor of Verdun. “People differentiated the hero of Verdun from the leader of the Vichy regime, even though he was the same person”he complained.

“It was he who betrayed the nation, he was deprived of all his civil and political rights”stressed the mayor. “After all, we should no longer talk about Marshal Pétain”he observed, because in 1945, Philippe Pétain was struck by national humiliation and was therefore, among other things, stripped of his military rank. “This man is the opposite of who we really are”concluded Samuel Hazard.