“
Scandalous
”
Vichy reference
, questioning of secularism: the proposal of a far-right MP speaking of “
the French State
” and aiming to enshrine in law “
the Christian heritage
” provoked an outcry on Saturday 23rd January in committee at the National Assembly.
Read also: Law against separatism: a much more demanding imam charter
Emmanuelle Ménard's amendment to the bill against “separatism” suggested rewriting article 1 of the 1905 law on the separation of churches and state with the following formula: “
The French state, strong of its Christian heritage, ensures freedom of worship and freedom of conscience
”.
The deputy, close to the National Rally and wife of the mayor of Béziers (Hérault) Robert Ménard, considered that "
it is not the Republic, a simple political regime, which guarantees freedom of conscience, but the French State through all political regimes assumed
”.
In addition, according to her, "
the Catholic Church cannot be treated quite in the same way as other cults which have arrived more recently
".
Voices were raised in all ranks to reject this amendment, stressing that it called into question both the Republic and the principle of neutral secularism towards all religions.
Negation
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described it as "
scandalous
", recalling that "
the republican form of our government cannot be questioned
".
"
The French state has a lot of connotations,
" he added, referring to the fact that it was the official name of the collaborationist regime of Marshal Pétain.
"
You recognize what the French extreme right is at all times: the enemy of the Republic
", launched the general rapporteur Florent Boudié (LREM) to the elected representative of Hérault.
Frédéric Petit (Modem) considered that if the Christian heritage of France is a historical fact, its evocation "
has nothing to do in the law of the Republic
", in the name of "the
neutrality of the State
".
Alexis Corbière (LFI) denounced a “
complete negation of the principle of secularism
”.