Invalides station, early Wednesday morning. A small, elderly woman seems completely lost: the last time she came to Paris, she was twelve years old. Now retired, she must be 75. From Poitou-Charentes, she took the train to say goodbye to TF1 1 p.m. newscaster Jean-Pierre Pernaut, who died last week. At the RATP counter, she was advised to go down to Invalides for the ceremony – which is actually held at the Sainte-Clotilde basilica 300 meters away – and the old lady believed that the ceremony was taking place in the monument. at the golden dome, Napoleon’s tomb and theater of national tributes to fallen soldiers, to great actors, singers, writers or politicians. This shows the esteem that the traveler for a day has for the former journalist.
Nathalie, 51, she was not mistaken in location. Coming from Lille, the tall blonde is well posted in front of the church of the 7th arrondissement, a stone’s throw from the Hôtel de Brienne which houses the offices of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, pending the arrival of the procession and the sector. Jean-Pierre Pernaut “has accompanied us for so many years, it is up to us to accompany him today”, she breathes. The Northerner started watching the JT from Pernaut at the age of 18 when she was still living with her parents. “Then I continued the tradition at home with my children. Moreover, when the newspaper started, they said: “There is Jean-Pierre who is there””. Next to Nathalie, Patricia, 73, remembers a day at the theater where she met the legendary presenter. Jean-Pierre Pernaut, who was presenting his new play, was sitting just behind her and laughing out loud: “It was hilarious, that’s when I saw how natural he was.”
Tauliers of the PAF, right-wing politicians and grieving public
At the entrance to the basilica, two large portraits of the late star of the first channel have been placed. One in color, the other in black and white. The forecourt has been meticulously squared. Only family, famous guests or TF1 teams who are obviously in special edition have access to it. Around the barriers, several hundred anonymous people (mostly white heads) see the PAF inmates in front of them – from Michel Drucker to Jean-Pierre Foucault – politicians like Valérie Pécresse, or more current television figures. C8 star host Cyril Hanouna came to pay tribute “to this faithful friend who has always been there”. CNews journalist Pascal Praud praises this comrade “who did not appreciate this institutional information so widespread and who only liked the report”. Of a sec “sorry sir”, a man points out to the presenter of the talk show react the hour of the pros that it obstructs the passage: Nicolas Sarkozy passes, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni.
Applause accompanied the arrival of the coffin and Nathalie Marquay-Pernaut. Problem, the van, which transports the family, spoils the view of the people installed opposite the entrance to the basilica. Enough to drive a groupie, in his fifties, crazy, who lets go between two insults: “We make the trip and in the end we can’t see anything”. Alain, 73, keeps his calm. Former owner of a restaurant, he is part of the “fan at home fan” category. He wears around his neck a sign bearing the image of “JPP” that he made himself from Unes de magazine. “We came to say goodbye to a family member. He was with us every lunchtimehe explains. His journal so different was a marvel. When he was on vacation, we missed him. As he walks away, he remarks: “I am often told that I have false airs of him elsewhere”. He’s not wrong.
During the ceremony – which is not broadcast on screen outside – two men discuss. “Where is he going to be buried? In the Pantheon? asks the first, very seriously. “No Still not”, responds the other, very seriously too. A resident of the neighborhood, camera in hand, has fun keeping her neighbors informed of the movements. “For the moment, there is only Claire Chazal and Denise Fabre” who are gone, she whispers to a couple. The ceremony lasts for almost two hours. The stars of the small screen and the others are finally coming out of the church. In the crowd, we play whoever will take the most photos. The speakers installed in front of the entrance to the basilica begin to play “Married” by Johnny Hallyday. The coffin of Jean-Pierre Pernaut then appears. It’s 1:45 p.m. The time he’s been on the air every day for more than thirty years.