France Salutes Lionel Jospin at Les Invalides as Macron Hails His Reforms

Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron, who led Thursday’s national homage at Les Invalides in Paris, held it in the Dôme’s south courtyard because the main Cour d’Honneur is under renovation.
• In his eulogy, the president said Jospin modernized France, citing the 35‑hour workweek, universal health coverage (CMU), civil unions (PACS), gender parity in elections, and five‑year presidential terms.
• The program followed military protocol with the coffin entering at 11:05, a minute of silence and La Marseillaise, then the family’s choice of Les Feuilles mortes before departure to a public funeral at Montparnasse at 2:30 p.m.
• Former ministers from the 1997–2002 “plural left” era gathered in force, while the Socialist Party asked supporters to bring a rose and opened condolence books across its federations.
• Jean‑Luc Mélenchon did not attend after saying he received a same‑day SMS invitation, a claim the Élysée and Jospin’s associates dispute.