France has been talking about the murder of the girl named Lola a week ago. Her mutilated body was found in a suitcase in Paris last Friday. Opposition parties gave the case political importance when it was found that the suspect was residing illegally in France.
Right-wing parties accuse President Emmanuel Macron’s government of failing to enforce immigration laws. They say deporting illegal immigrants could have prevented Lula’s death. Far-right politician Eric Zemmour joined a demonstration Thursday night where people showed pictures of Lula and blamed Macron’s government for her death.
The actions go against the will of Lola’s parents. They have repeatedly called on politicians not to use the name and photos of their murdered daughter for political gain. Politicians are disrupting mourning for their daughter, they say through lawyers.
But right-wing parties see an opportunity to attack Macron’s government over its immigration policies. The suspect, a 24-year-old Algerian woman who is said to be suffering from delusions in the French media, came to France in 2016 on a student visa but did not leave when the visa expired. In August, the French authorities gave her 30 days to leave the country.
Former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen did not participate in the demonstration, but organized a mourning meeting in the French Parliament.
The government has promised to improve the fight against illegality, but advocates that the wishes of Lula’s parents be fulfilled. President Macron met the parents and said on Friday they deserved “the respect and affection of the nation”. Their daughter will be buried on Monday.