The decree abrogating the Observatory of secularism, created in 2013 and on the spot for several months, and instituting in its place an “
interministerial committee of secularism
” placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister, appeared on Saturday June 5 in the Official Journal .
The publication of the decree comes the day after Matignon's announcement of the creation of this committee.
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This new body "
coordinates and ensures the follow-up of the implementation of the Government's action in order to ensure the promotion and respect of the principle of secularism within State administrations, local authorities and others. public or private law persons entrusted with a public service mission
”, according to the decree. “
As such, (the committee) ensures the dissemination, to the latter, of the rules relating to the principle of secularism and ensures the consistency of their implementation. It helps define the training requirements which any public official in this area must meet
”.
Chaired by the Prime Minister, the interministerial committee on secularism will bring together “
at least once a year
” all the ministries concerned.
The Minister of the Interior will act as “
secretariat
”.
This same decree abolished the Observatory of Secularism, known for its work in the field but accused for several years by certain politicians of being too lax vis-à-vis Islamism.
This controversy resurfaced in October after the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty in front of his college in Yvelines.
Read also: Does the Secularism Observatory sufficiently defend secularism?
According to Matignon, the objective of the new committee is to “
prepare the concrete application
” of the bill “
consolidating the principles of the Republic
”, which must be definitively adopted by Parliament by the summer break, while being “
operational.
”And“
efficient
”.
This bill provides, among other things, for "
an obligation of training in the requirements of the principle of secularism for all public officials
" and "
the creation of secular referents in all administrations
".