The Administrative Court has ruled: the City of Paris has 24 hours to withdraw its message of support for the strikers displayed on the facade of the Hôtel de Ville after a decision to this effect was taken on Wednesday, May 3. “It is enjoined on the mayor of Paris to carry out the permanent withdrawal of these banners within twenty-four hours following the notification of this order”, wrote in particular the judge in chambers.
A symbolic victory for the elected representatives of the Parisian right, including Aurélien Véron, Nelly Garnier and Jean-Baptiste Olivier, who had filed an application for interim measures on April 17 demanding the removal of these banners on which one could read “Town Hall solidarity with the social movement”. Banners “appeared intermittently in January” according to Aurélien Véron, elected Changer Paris in Paris Center, who boasts that the town hall of Paris was “caught in the bag”.
“The Hôtel de Ville does not belong to Anne Hidalgo, but to all Parisians. It is a public service which must remain neutral. It will finally become so again, ”he also welcomed. In the order, the judge in chambers relies in particular on the principle of neutrality of public services, which “opposes the affixing to public buildings of signs symbolizing the claim of political, religious or philosophical opinions” .
“Apart from all political considerations, it is the necessary reminder of the fundamental principle of neutrality of public buildings which founded the action in summary proceedings pleaded this morning. This principle applies to all public buildings, from the smallest to the largest such as the town hall of Paris”, further explains Me Pierrick Gardien, the lawyer for the three elected officials.
