Perhaps it was inevitable, but the tributes planned in France after the death of Pope Francis have led to a row on the principle of state secularism.
The principle of I secular – Secularism: it is a basis of French political life, but also leads to regular disputes and political fights on exactly how it applies in everyday life.
Read also what really affected in France?
From the serious ones, such as the proposal to prohibit women from using amateur or professionals from Hijab, to trivials, if children should be allowed advent calendars at school, I secular It is never far from the controversy.
The last row has exploded on the plans to pay tribute to Pope Francis flying the flags to Half Mast on Saturday, the day of the funeral of the deceased Pontiff.
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Unlike neighbor Spain and Italy, and Pope’s native Argentina, France has not declared a day of mourning after his death. An official Journée de Deuil It can only be declared by the President and is usual reserved for former French presidents or the root of mass tragedies such as Charlie Hebdo’s terrorist attack.
President Emmanuel Macron has not declared a day of mourning for the Pope, although he will join Ohin Ohher’s global leaders at the Funeral of Rome on Saturday.
But on Wednesday it was announced that the French flags in state buildings would be “And Berne” On Saturday.
This decision was attacked by leftist deputy Alexis Corbières, who believes that clashes with the strict religious neutrality required by the I secular law.
Information told France: “I totally disagree with this, because secularism has principles.
“It is normal for the Head of State [Macron] Pays tribute to the Pope. But we do not have to mark a way of secularism of variable geometry, so that when a religious authority dies, we put flags in mast, but we do not do it for other religions. “
It also opposes Macron’s plans to attend funeral, saying: “We do not have to participate as representatives chosen in a religious ceremony, and France, as a secular republic, it is not so, it does not mark half a mast when it is a religious authority.”
This is not the first time that this controversy has arisen: the current Prime Minister François Bayrou made exactly the same objection in 2005 when the flags flew to half a mast after the death of Pope Jean Paul II.
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The government spokesman has defended the decision, saying that, in addition to a religious leader, the Pope has a diplomatic and political role and is registered as a head of state.
Varias figuras políticas también tienen fantasmas a favor de la decisión, incluido el ex primer ministro Michel Barnier, quien le dijo a France 2 TV: “En un momento como este, no hay lugar para los argumentos. Seguimos siendo seculares y atacados al secularismo, pero debemos ser el Emuscado como Emusti la Emusta a Emuste a Emuste a la emusta de Emuste a la emusta al Emuste a la emusta al Emuste To the emuste from the emuste to the emuste of the emuste to the emuste of emuste to the emuste to the emussta of emuste to the emussta to the emuste to the emussta of Emuste.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also supported the decision, and Retilleau added that the flags have been flown to masts of foreign state media before, including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Cannes Mayor David Lisnard told Europe 1 to declare a day of mourning for the Pope “would have raised a problem”, but in his opinion there were no problems with flying the flags to the mast medium on the day of the funeral.
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