Death to the Death Penalty and Other Matters of Life in France

The entire weekend was spent relaxing in bed after FINALLY getting a cortisone shot in my spine. The doctor said to take it easy and that’s exactly what I did…in my “new” old apartment where I feel totally at home. Art went up on the walls Sunday afternoon and with the exception of boxes of files we’ve hidden under a bed that will likely get taken away and shredded, it’s 98% complete…just a few extra things to do this coming week to call it DONE. You have no idea how happy this makes me, even though the next couple of months will be filled with travel away from Paris!

You’ll hear more about upcoming excursions to parts of France to which I’ve never been, so stay tuned.

BADINTER? NO, GOOD “ENTERREMENT”

When I stepped off the 96 bus to meet my Osteopath for a session (this time devoted to my herniated disk), the streets of the 6th arrondissement seemed busier than usual. No wonder. At that very moment, Robert Badinter’s cenotaph was being escorted to the Panthéon, where his spirit was to join the republic’s pantheon of souls, in a ceremony of memory, justice, and quiet majesty.

The announcement of the honor had been made after his death in February 2024 in accord with his widow and family. The date of October 9th was no accident—it’s the anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in France, the very reform he championed as Minister of Justice—forty-four years after vigorously campaigning.

In a powerful symbolic gesture, his remains were not transferred—instead, a cenotaph was erected in his honor. The cenotaph holds his lawyer’s robe and three books dear to him: Idiss, a tribute to his grandmother; “Choses Vues;” and a biography of Condorcet, whom he so deeply admired.

I was on the table of my Osteopath being worked by his sensitive hands while we watched the ceremony on his computer screen. It was as dignified and sober as the life Badinter led—accompanied by readings, tributes, and the solemn echo of republican values. The public and dignitaries alike gathered, paying homage to a man whose legacy carried much more than political weight: it carried moral authority.

In that moment, the Panthéon became more than a mausoleum. It became a stage for memory—and Badinter, though gone in body, took his rightful place among the great minds and moral architects of the Republic.

Badinter fought tirelessly to abolish the death penalty in France and in 1981, didn’t just change a law. He changed the conscience of a nation. The guillotine fell for the last time in 1977, and since then, France has stood firm in its conviction that the Republic does not kill—even in the name of justice.

Today, the French Constitution enshrines that principle. France refuses to extradite anyone who might face execution abroad, and its diplomats proudly promote abolition worldwide as a hallmark of human rights. The country sees the death penalty not as justice served, but as a barbaric relic incompatible with “liberté, égalité, fraternité.” Badinter himself said it best: “Tomorrow, thanks to you, France’s justice will no longer be a justice that kills.”

The United States, however, continues to wrestle with this very question. In 27 states, capital punishment remains legal—and though executions are less frequent, they persist. Some Americans view it as a form of ultimate justice; others see it as state-sanctioned vengeance. Studies reveal racial disparities, wrongful convictions, and astronomical costs that make the system as inefficient as it is inhumane. The debate rages on, divided by politics, region, and faith—proof that for all its power, America’s moral compass can still point in two directions at once. And don’t we know it?

Lying on the treatment table, but near the Panthéon that day, as Badinter’s memory was honored beneath the hallowed dome, it was hard not to reflect on what justice really means. France, for all its flaws, made a clear moral choice more than four decades ago. The United States still hasn’t. And perhaps that’s the lesson Badinter leaves behind—not just for France, but for the world—that true justice demands not just punishment, but humanity.

It’s one reason I’m in France and finger’s crossed, they will grant me citizenship after the official interview this coming Friday!

Here’s a beautiful report of the event on YouTube to watch.

ROAMING RETIREMENT

Two of our clients, Brandie and Todd Jewell, have developed quite a following for their YouTube channel (among a few others, mind you), with “their own little House Hunters videos” that they call “Roaming Retirement.” Their content documents their experience relocating, settling in, and exploring life in Nice…and they do a really great job.

In a recent video, “Why Americans Chose Nice Over Paris: 6 Reasons,” they quoted me. Our clients who follow their videos say they’ve learned a lot…so if you want to know why Nice and not Paris (?), have a watch!

L’ANNEXE DE FRANCAIS

The Institut de Français, that is often a topic in our Nouvellettres®, the language school in the villa overlooking Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, will soon open a sister school in Nice, called L’Annexe de Français!

The school will be housed in a beautiful historic building on Avenue Félix Faure—the former Nice Prefecture—right across from the Coulée Verte and just steps away from Place Masséna. The address itself is prestigious: 10 avenue Félix Faure, with sweeping views over central Nice and the Coulée Verte and the Old Nice beyond.

The idea behind L’Annexe de Français is to bring the school’s proven audio-visual and immersive teaching methods into a more urban and dynamic context, combining intensive language practice with cultural activities. The main innovation will be their new “repeater sessions,” where students immediately reinforce what they’ve learned through guided repetition and real-life use right after their morning class.

As they prepare for the launch in January 2026, you should prepare by contacting them and booking your session so that you can jump way ahead in learning to speak French! Use their online application form or email them.

VACCINATION

Last January I landed in the hospital for two weeks with Influenza A. I suspect that the reason it hit me so hard was because I had gotten lazy and never made the effort to get the annual vaccination. That won’t happen this year! Normally I get a notice in the mail, but it hasn’t arrived yet, so I’ll have to make a special effort…but that’s okay.

Here’s how to get your flu vaccination in France this year:

1. Check the campaign dates
The national flu vaccination campaign runs from October 14, 2025 to January 31, 2026.

2. Who is eligible for full coverage (100%)?
If you fall into one of the priority groups, the vaccine and injection are covered in full (no cost at point of service). These include:
• Age 65 and older
• Persons under 65 with certain chronic health conditions
• Pregnant women
• People with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40)
• Those in long-term care or medical-social settings
• Children from six months old with conditions or as prescribed
If you’re not in a priority group, you can still get vaccinated—though you might pay out of pocket (or get partial reimbursement through your health insurance).

3. Where to go/who can administer it
You have several options:
• General practitioners (médecins généralistes)
• Pharmacies—many pharmacists in France are authorized to administer flu shots
• Nurses and midwives (in certain settings)
• In some regions or health networks, medical centers or vaccination clinics may also offer flu shots
You may need a voucher or prescription in some places; check locally.

4. Can you combine with a COVID-19 shot?
Yes—this year’s campaign encourages concomitant vaccination: you can receive the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time (one in each arm) if eligible.

5. Make an appointment
Many vaccination sites require an appointment. You can schedule with your doctor, pharmacist, or local vaccination center.
Be sure to bring:
• Your Carte Vitale (or your health insurance card)
• Any prescription or voucher (if required)
• Identification

6. Reimbursements/cost
If you’re in a priority group, the shot is free at a point of service. If not, your “Assurance Maladie” (health insurance) may reimburse a portion.

It’s easy to make an appointment on Doctolib. Search for “Vaccination antigrippale (Grippe)” and it will pull up a number of pharmacies where you can make an appointment! I’m booked for Wednesday…yeah!

A la prochaine…