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Since 2016, the town of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune has had a single menu. This decision was challenged by parents of schoolchildren, who won their case at the end of October before the Lyon administrative court. The mayor denounced the decision as a “political judgment”.
Le Figaro Lyon
Set up in 2016 by Pascal Charmot, the LR mayor of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune, in order to “conform to secularism” and for organizational reasons in the manufacture of meals, a single menu in the town’s canteens has just been rejected by the Lyon administrative court.
According to a decision Le Figaro the judges found that “if there is no obligation for local authorities managing a public school catering service to distribute differentiated meals to its users”.it is nonetheless up to local authorities “to take into account the general interest in ensuring that all children can benefit from this public service”..
“It’s not a community wish at all”
Also, according to the court, by putting an end to the distribution of alternative menus “on the grounds that they infringe the principles of secularity and neutrality of the public service”.the commune of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune failed to comply with the law, “these principles do not in themselves prevent local authorities from offering alternative meals in school canteens”..
Anissa Mezhoud, a member of a parents’ association, welcomed the court’s repeal of the single menu as a relief. The latter denounced for several years now, the introduction of these unique menus. “I’d like to emphasize that this is not at all a community wish. I’ve campaigned to stop playing politics with issues that put the French under pressure, by taking children hostage for political ends. All I want is for the children to be able to eat together at lunchtime”.assures Anissa.
The mayor’s office will appeal
For the municipality, Pascal Charmot denounced a “very political judgment”.. “It’s very serious, this decision flouts the law, twists the facts. It is a violent interference by the judge in the management of communal affairs”.continued the mayor. According to the ruling, the latter has six months to re-establish alternative menus. “But these menus never existed. So how can I put back something that didn’t exist? Unless the judge makes me a shopping list.”says the mayor of Tassin-la-Demi-Lune.
For Pascal Charmot, eight years after the decision was taken, “never has a child suffered from not eating properly”.. The elected representative assured us that he would appeal.