Ethan Wagner, a municipal councilor for the Rassemblement National in Saint-Avold, resigned Wednesday [1].

The resignation follows the circulation of a video showing Wagner singing "Maréchal, nous voilà," a song associated with the collaborationist Vichy regime. Because the song glorifies Marshal Pétain, the footage sparked a sharp political controversy in the Moselle department.

In the video, Wagner is seen behind the wheel of a car while singing the lyrics [1]. The song was a hallmark of the regime that collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, making its use by an elected official a significant point of contention.

Wagner addressed the incident by attributing the behavior to his past. "I regret it," Wagner said [1]. He described the incident as "a youth error" [1].

Following the public outcry and the dissemination of the footage, Wagner chose to leave his position in the Saint-Avold municipal council [1]. The announcement of his departure occurred July 8 [1].

Océane Simon, an assistant to the mayor, was also identified in reports regarding the local administration during the period of this controversy [1]. The Rassemblement National has not issued a separate formal statement regarding the specific internal disciplinary process leading to the resignation.

“"I regret it"”

This incident highlights the ongoing tension in France regarding the legacy of the Vichy regime and the standards of conduct for officials within the Rassemblement National. By characterizing the act as a 'youth error,' the official attempted to distance his current political identity from collaborationist symbolism, yet the immediate resignation suggests the party views such public associations as a liability to its image of legitimacy.