A Pétainist hymn praising Marshal Pétain was broadcast over loudspeakers during a May 8 commemoration ceremony in Carpentras [1].
The incident occurred during a day dedicated to honoring the liberation of France on May 8, 1945 [2]. The broadcast of a song associated with the Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany, during a victory celebration creates a severe ideological contradiction in a public space.
The music was played on May 8, 2026 [3], by a local associative radio organization. The song, titled "Maréchal, nous voilà!", is a known hymn of the Pétainist movement. Its presence during the official proceedings sparked immediate backlash from local officials and residents.
A spokesperson for the local radio association said the broadcast was an "unintentional error" [4]. The organization did not elaborate on how the specific track was selected or played during the event.
The mayor of Carpentras, a member of the National Rally (RN), condemned the incident. She described the broadcast as a provocation and a manipulation of the ceremony. The mayor said, "We will file a complaint against the service provider in charge of the musical programming" [5].
Carpentras, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, is currently dealing with the fallout of the broadcast as the mayor seeks legal accountability for the radio association [6].
“"Il s'agit d'une erreur non intentionnelle."”
The broadcast of a Vichy-era hymn during Victory in Europe Day celebrations highlights the enduring tension surrounding France's collaborationist history. By pursuing legal action, the local government is attempting to signal that the public glorification of Marshal Pétain, even if framed as a technical error, is incompatible with official state commemorations of the liberation from fascism.
