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Secularism: the celebration of the start of Hanukkah at the Élysée sparks controversy
Secularism: the celebration of the start of Hanukkah at the Élysée sparks controversy – (Franceinfo)
On Thursday, December 7, the Élysée hosted a celebration of the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, which sparked controversy. The head of state defended this during his visit to Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on Friday.
The Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia lit a candle under the eyes of Emmanuel Macron, on the evening of Thursday, December 7, and sang a song in Hebrew to celebrate the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Since the broadcast of these images, controversy has grown around the head of state, accused of having transgressed the principle of secularism.
Critics from all political sides
Friday morning, during his visit to the construction site of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, the person concerned defended himself: “Secularism is not the erasure of religions. It is the fact that everyone has the right and the freedom to believe and not to believe. If the President of the Republic had lent himself to a religious gesture or had participated in a ceremony, that would not be respectful of secularism. pass”, he indicated. All day Friday, from Jean-Luc Mélenchon to Republican David Lisnard or the socialist Laurence Rossignol, political figures from all sides have expressed their criticism.
