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On 3 June 2003 Lassalle stood up in the National Assembly during questions to Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy and sang the Occitan anthem Se Canto in protest at an announcement by Sarkozy concerning the housing of 23 gendarmes tasked with guarding the Somport tunnel, which links France with Spain through the Pyrenees.
Barracks and facilities for gendarmerie including the GIGN headquarters and the gendarmerie armored squadron
The French gendarme was also a key factor in leading his national Épée team to 7 World Championships Team medals: gold in 1951; silver 1953, 1955, 1961, 1963; and bronze 1954 and 1958.