Patrick Allemand: “This intervention is linked to the anti-republican and anti-secular speech given by Nicolas Sarkozy at the Vatican last December 20th.”
Patrick Allemand responded to questions from Nice Premium to explain his reasons for being astonished.
Nice Premium: Patrick Allemand, you strongly criticized Christian Estrosi for his intervention yesterday at the Sardinian Palace. Can you tell us why?
Patrick Allemand: I find that presenting religious holidays in front of denominational representatives in a Republic building by a Secretary of State is a serious breach of the principle of secularism. And it’s not an isolated act. It is part of the drift of the Sarkozyist UMP which wants to insidiously bring religions and their representatives back to the heart of public action.
NP: What shocked you the most in this speech?
PA: I boycotted this ceremony for the reasons I just mentioned, so I do not know what he said. As usual, he must have adapted to the audience.
But I have in mind a frightening sentence said by Nicolas Sarkozy which is in line with today’s ceremony: “In the transmission of values and in learning the difference between good and evil, the teacher can never replace the priest or pastor, even though it is important that he tries, because he will always lack the radicality of sacrificing his life and the charisma of a commitment driven by hope.”
NP: You link this intervention to that of President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Vatican. Do you think it’s a ‘team’ effort?
PA: I believe, as always, that Christian ESTROSI wants to demonstrate the zeal of a good Sarkozyist soldier, and he has crossed the limits of acceptability with this ceremony.
Beyond that, I believe there is a real ideological background that wants to lean on religions to reestablish a pseudo moral order and organize society into communities. However, communitarianism is the opposite of the French tradition. Once again, it is the American culture that Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to export to France, and if we let him, our republican tradition will be threatened.
NP: Have you officially approached Christian Estrosi to express your astonishment? If yes, have you received any response from him?
PA: It’s difficult to approach Christian ESTROSI; he’s almost always in Paris or in the islands.
NP: For you, what is secularism really, and what does its constitutional principle represent?
PA: The French conception of secularism is for me the respect for the separation between the Church and the State and the neutrality of the republican institutions on religious matters.
This is not, however, a combative secularism that prevents people from fully living their faith. Conversely, the state must respect those who have chosen not to believe. Today, the UMP State tends to make those who do not practice a religion feel guilty, and I find this very serious.
