During the inaugural municipal debate in Marseille, organized by BFM, Le Figaro, and La Provence, a controversial moment was sparked when Martine Vassal, a candidate for the center-right, cited the Pétainist slogan "work, family, fatherland". This remark not only drew attention but also incited a strong reaction from political opponents and even some from her own support base. Vassal's choice of words has raised concerns among other politicians about the appropriateness and implications of revisiting such a loaded historical reference.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of the Assembly and a prominent political figure, was particularly vocal in her criticism, calling Vassal's statement "nonsense" and expressing her worry about the casualness with which Vassal brought up such a phrase. Braun-Pivet's comments reflect a broader unease within the political landscape regarding the normalization of controversial historical references in contemporary discourse.

The debate is significant not only for its immediate political implications in the context of the Marseille municipal elections but also for what it reveals about the current climate of political rhetoric in France. The invocation of a slogan associated with the Vichy regime raises questions about historical memory and the responsibilities of political leaders in navigating sensitive topics that can influence public sentiment and political polarization.