Burkini in the swimming pools of Toulouse: the debate resurfaces at the Capitol
Laurence Arribagé, Jean-Luc Moudenc’s sports assistant at the town hall of Toulouse, tried to rekindle the controversy by accusing the municipal opposition of not speaking out on the wish tabled by the municipal majority to recall the ban. burkini in Toulouse swimming pools.
Not happy Laurence Arribagé! The deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of sports, freshly beaten in the legislative elections, cut her teeth on the rebellious opposition to the Capitol, after the last city council. In a vengeful press release, the elected criticizes her opponents for “having hidden themselves”, by refusing to take part in the vote on a wish presented by the majority.
In this case, it was a question of “reaffirming the will of the council not to modify the internal regulations of municipal swimming pools”, on the authorized basis, the wearing of the burkini is prohibited. “A fact as exceptional as it is surprising, no elected opposition member had the guts to speak up to explain their choice of silence, indignant Laurence Arribagé, castigating these municipal councilors “gagas of the ecological mayor of Grenoble”, Eric Piolle, who authorized the burkini…
Buzz and instrumentalization for Islamophobic purposes
And there, the assistant sees red. Even if it means forcing the line to feed a controversy that she is struggling to ignite. “The Toulouse opposition remains subject to its ambiguity on any subject that affects the deep values of our Republic and our rule of law, she assures. Why such a fuss? Internal disagreements? Hidden community electoral calculation? Hidden combat against the notion of the rule of law and against the legitimacy of the decisions of the Council of State? Hidden desire to unravel secularism and the neutrality of public service? Hidden benevolence with Salafism? Leftist refusing any rule, was it hygiene in a swimming pool?
A slightly excessive outburst, quickly calmed down by François Piquemal, elected Insoumis and any young Toulouse deputy. “We do not see the point of commenting on a wish which explains that it does not change anything in the regulations and which has moreover been taken up by the far right, which means everything, he notes. It was a useless vote intended above all to create buzz and instrumentalized for Islamophobic purposes. This testifies to a rather rancid vision of our fellow citizens of the Muslim faith. During this time we do not speak of the deficiencies of public swimming pools in Toulouse. This is what worries us in these hot weather. So that all those who are not on vacation have access to a water point”. Return to sender!