Municipal elections : a religion shows its faith

Alors que l'issue des élections municipales est loin d'être acquise, l'un des colistiers d'un candidat et actuel conseiller municipal, convaincu de la victoire de son leader, entrevoit une carrière politique, à Angers et au-delà. L'élu angevin se confie également sur son identité ethnico-religieuse et aborde la place de sa confession dans la ville. Apparemment une première dans la ligne de conduite d'élus municipaux, dont les électeurs sont croyants, athées, voire anti-religieux.

If the outcome of the Angers municipal elections is not predictable, in the main platforms some running-mates do not have doubts about the chances of their leader. It seems to be the case of a current town councillor who, in an interview published in a local media, is said to be candidate to more important tasks in the team he belongs to, in case of reelection. Until now simple town councillor, that person aims to a political office at Angers Loire Métropole scale. The display of such an ambition might appear a little bit premature given the first round will not take place before one month. But, this is not the only questionable aspect of the interview.

The political representative is said by the media that his professional mission is now over and to have found "his potential successor", a colleague currently working abroad. One may conjecture that this one has been informed about his new job in Angers and that his future co-workers have been told by other means than press of such a change.

But the most intriguing content of the interview is the definition that town councillor gives of himself : based on ethnic and religion. Of course, the individual is, as any other political representative, entitled to have religious convictions. Nevertheless, the number of elected persons, whatever be their denominational believes, having publicly stated that religion defines their identities, is unusual in the Angers political context. Have Frédéric Béatse, Christophe Béchu, Laurent Gérault, Jean-Luc Rotureau or their running mates, made allusion to their religious opinion (if they have one) as a reference in their public identity? But, the person goes further in the interview.

If he may think that the current place of worship for his coreligionists is unacceptable in Angers, is the job of a republican representative to promote erections of ecclesial buildings in the different districts? After the secularism tree of Lorraine square was beheaded twice, Angers political leaders should distance themselves with religious opinions which have nothing to do with the management of a city.