‘Till death another death do us part:
NICE, France — Dressed in a demure black suit, a 35-year-old Frenchwoman married her dead boyfriend Tuesday, an exchange of vows that required authorization from President Jacques Chirac.
Under French law, Christelle Demichel became both bride and widow in the ceremony, which was performed at Nice City Hall on the French Riviera. The groom, a former policeman identified as Eric, was killed by a drunk driver in September 2002.
Demichel told LCI television she understood “it could seem shocking to marry someone who is dead,” but her feelings for him had not dimmed. His body was not present for the ceremony.
Such marriages are legal if the living spouse can prove the couple had intended to marry before the other died. The French president must also authorize it.
Per CNN TV, I understand that the widow was pregnant and in the car during the accident, but only she survived.
That’s sad.
I wonder what “proof” a wedding applicant has to have under this law, and why it took a year and a half to go through with the wedding. Maybe that’s when it was originally scheduled.
I would assume that she receives some kind of widow benefits from the government, which probably explains the delay and need for proof.
Hmmm. I thought about property rights, but I didn’t consider government benefits (if any are applicable). That might be one reason a presidential approval is required.