仏大統領府でユダヤ教儀式、政教分離めぐりマクロン氏に批判集中

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】フランスのエマニュエル・マクロン大統領は８日、首都パリのエリゼ宮（大統領府）でユダヤ教の儀式を行わせたことについて、政教分離を定めた法律に反していると批判を受け、釈明に追われた。（写真はエマニュエル・マクロン大統領）
　マクロン氏は反ユダヤ主義に反対する姿勢を評価され、大統領府で７日に行われた授賞式で賞を授与された。その際、同国のラビ（ユダヤ教指導者）長のアイム・コルシア師は、マクロン氏が見守る中でユダヤ教の祭式「ハヌカ」に用いられるろうそくに火をともした。
　極左の重鎮マニュエル・ボンパール氏はＸ（旧ツイッター）で、マクロンは「許し難い政治的過ち」を犯したと非難し、緑の党のサンドリーヌ・ルソー議員も同じくＸで、「エリゼ宮で宗教的儀式を行わせることなく国内のユダヤ人社会を支援することもできたはずだ」と指摘した。
　しかし、最も強い反応を示したのは、フランスのユダヤ人統括組織の代表だった。
　フランス・ユダヤ系団体代表協議会のヨナタン・アルフィ代表は、大統領府でハヌカを行ったのは「過ち」だと述べた。
　国内のシュド・ラジオに対し、「宗教的なものとの分離はフランス共和国のＤＮＡに刷り込まれている」ため、今回の出来事には「驚かされた」と話し、「フランスのユダヤ人は常に世俗主義を保護と自由の法と見なしてきた」「世俗主義が形骸化すれば、フランスのユダヤ人の立場も弱まる」と批判した。
　８日にパリのノートルダム大聖堂を視察したマクロン氏はこうした批判について、大統領府での式典開催は「共和国と調和の精神にのっとって」許可したもので、「一切」後悔はしていないと主張。自身は、宗教的な儀式や式典には参加しなかったと述べた。
　「世俗主義を軽視」する可能性はあったとしながら、「そういう事態は起きなかった」と強調した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/12/11-15:48）

French President Emmanuel Macron felt compelled Friday to justify allowing a Jewish ritual at the Elysee palace after critics accused him of failing to respect France's secular traditions.
During an award ceremony on Thursday -- at which Macron was handed a prize for his stance against anti-Semitism -- France's Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia lit the first candle of a menorah -- a ceremony that opens the week-long Jewish festival of Hanukkah -- as Macron looked on.
Religion and state are separated by law in France, and opposition parties were quick to criticise the president after a video of the event went viral on social media.
Far-left heavyweight Manuel Bompard said on X, formerly Twitter, that Macron had made an unforgivable political mistake, while Green party deputy Sandrine Rousseau, also on X, said it would have been possible to support France's Jewish community without allowing a religious ceremony into the Elysee.
But the most impactful reaction came from one of France's foremost Jewish representatives.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the representative council of Jewish institutions in France (CRIF), said it had been an error to kick off Hanukkah in the presidential palace.
It's in the DNA of the republic to stay away from anything religious, he told the Sud Radio broadcaster, adding that he had been surprised at the incident.
Jews in France have always considered secularism as a law of protection and a law of freedom, he said. Anything that weakens secularism weakens the Jews of France.
Asked about the criticism during a visit to the Notre-Dame cathedral Friday, Macron said he had no regrets at all and had allowed the celebration in the spirit of the republic and of harmony.
He had not himself participated in any religious ritual or ceremony that, he acknowledged, would have been disrespectful of secularism.
But that's not what happened, he said.
- 'Signal of support' -
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne came to Macron's defence, saying the president had wanted to send a signal of support to the Jewish community at a time of rising anti-Semitism.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin added that the president respects all religions.
France has reported over 1,500 anti-Semitic acts and comments since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Macron has stirred controversy in religious matters before. In September he attended a Catholic mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Marseille, southern France, at a time when the government was also pushing to ban in schools the abaya garment worn by some Muslim women.
Last month, Macron declined to participate in a major march against anti-Semitism, saying the event was being exploited by some politicians for their own ends. His absence was much criticised across the political spectrum and by Jewish representatives.
In Germany meanwhile, Olaf Scholz on Thursday became the first chancellor to light Berlin's central Hanukkah menorah, also in a sign of solidarity with Jews amid a surge of anti-Semitism during the Israel-Hamas war.
Wearing a kippa, Scholz urged the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas as he addressed a crowd gathered at the Brandenburg Gate for the start of the Jewish festival of lights.
burs/jh/js