Ask Onix
Right-wing leader calls for national homage to Bardot
Éric Ciotti, head of France's right-wing UDR party, has urged a state tribute to Brigitte Bardot, the iconic actress who died on Sunday at 91. Ciotti described her as France's "Marianne," the symbol of liberty she once embodied in the 1960s.
Petition gains traction, sparks political divide
Ciotti's online petition has gathered over 23,000 signatures, with support from far-right allies. He argued Bardot brought France global fame and championed women's rights, including abortion access.
Left-wing critics, however, question the move. Socialist leader Olivier Faure countered that national homages are reserved for those who served the nation exceptionally. Bardot, he noted, had "turned her back on republican values."
Controversial legacy resurfaces
Bardot's life was marked by polarizing stances. Convicted five times for inciting racial hatred, she faced criticism for remarks targeting Muslims and residents of France's Réunion Island.
"To mourn dolphins while ignoring migrant deaths in the Mediterranean-what level of cynicism is that?"
Green MP Sandrine Rousseau
Mixed reactions from the left
Not all left-wing figures oppose the tribute. Socialist MP Philippe Brun told French radio, "Why not? We've honored others, like Johnny Hallyday." He deferred to President Emmanuel Macron, who called Bardot a "legend of the century."
Bardot's final wishes contrast with public debate
Friends say Bardot, who retreated from public life decades ago, wanted a quiet farewell. Journalist Steven Bellery, who interviewed her this year, said she preferred simplicity over ceremonies. She requested burial at her Riviera home, La Madrague, fearing crowds might disturb her family's graves.
Saint-Tropez officials, however, announced a private burial in the town cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean. Her funeral will be held on 7 January at Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church, with screens broadcasting the service across town.
Precedents for national tributes
France has honored figures like abolitionist Robert Badinter with solemn ceremonies and singer Charles Aznavour with concerts. A more likely model for Bardot would be Johnny Hallyday's 2017 procession, where crowds lined Paris streets.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, focused on animal welfare, confirmed the funeral details but did not comment on the tribute debate.
