French Government to Replace Secularism Observatory with High Council

Reflections are now focused on the post-Observatory of Secularism. To this end, the French Minister for Citizenship presented to the Senate "avenues of work" aimed at "evolving the holding of secularism within the state apparatus". In other words, Minister Marlène Schiappa’s intervention announces the end of the Observatory of Secularism. She adds that in the draft law on "respect for the principles of the Republic", the Observatory will become "a High Council on Secularism".

The work on the preliminary draft law is placed under the authority of the Prime Minister who will "soon make known his arbitration", said Marlène Schiappa. "We want to evolve the holding of secularism within the state apparatus [...] This will not necessarily go through the maintenance of the Observatory of Secularism," she clarified.

A High Council on Secularism

For Marlène Schiappa, Prime Minister Jean Castex is already far along in the reflection to "evolve" this advisory body chaired by Jean-Louis Bianco. As evidenced by one of the Prime Minister’s interventions in October. "I think we can take note of the formal announcement of the disappearance of the Observatory of Secularism," consented Marie-Pierre de La Gontrie of the Socialist Party. Schiappa thus succeeded in her communication to convince the Senate. But Didier Marie of the PS found it "very surprising on the occasion of a text on secularism to indicate the end of the main tool that allows it to live." For her part, Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio of the right (LR), felt that "we can question the assessment" and the "effectiveness" of this Observatory. "Secularism has never been so attacked," she notes.

Marlène Schiappa unveiled the coordination structure that would be responsible for animating the secularism referents, linking the administration and the territory. "We are reflecting, under the authority of the Prime Minister, on the creation of a High Council on Secularism, in addition to this reinforcement at the level of the administration [...], which will be able to usefully enlighten the government," she said.