A certain controversy, in these times when everything is an occasion for conflict, will not take place as we approach the Christmas festivities, unlike last year: the Council of State authorized, this Wednesday, the installation of Christmas cribs in public buildings under strict conditions.
Therefore, no controversy and no opportunity to act defiantly as former Nice mayor Christian Estrosi did last year.
In a cautious decision, the highest administrative court ruled that “in public buildings, headquarters of a public community or a public service, a Christmas crib cannot be installed unless specific circumstances show that this installation has a cultural, artistic, or festive nature.”
On October 21, the public rapporteur of the Council of State had already recommended authorization under certain conditions. He argued that the law “does not prohibit the installation of cribs on public property,” except when a “religious intention” governs such a display. Consequently, according to this opinion, a crib should have a temporary, festive character and not be of a religious nature.
Sometimes, it doesn’t take much reasoning; a bit of common sense is more than sufficient.
