Illustration of a primary school. – ALLILI MOURAD / SIPA
- A user recently relayed a message on social networks asking not to participate in campaign events for regional and departmental elections. According to her, this message is addressed to school principals in Seine-Saint-Denis.
- “We always have a reserve period as a civil servant. As a citizen, there is no censorship, whether in Seine-Saint-Denis or elsewhere. We have every right to be politically and associatively engaged ”, reminds 20 minutes Caroline Marchand, departmental co-secretary of SNUipp-FSU 93.
School principals asked to refrain from participating in electoral events, while the campaign for regional and departmental elections begins? That’s what suggests a message relayed on Twitter on Monday.
Civil servants are invited to “refrain from participating in any public event or ceremony likely to be of a […] election, either through the discussions that may take place, [soit en] because of the personality of the organizers or their guests ”. This reserve period must begin Sunday, May 30, and last until June 27, the day of the second round of these elections.
The text does not say to whom this message is intended, but the Internet user who relayed it on Twitter specifies that it is addressed to school principals in Seine-Saint-Denis. “Would teachers no longer have the right to hold political beliefs? She asks herself then.
FAKE OFF
A teacher has the right to engage in politics, on condition of not engaging the National Education and therefore “outside the service”, recalled the ministry in response to a parliamentary question in 2011.
The confusion may have arisen from the wording of the message, which does not specify this distinction between civil servant and citizen. Asked, the rectorate did not follow up.
Teachers are free to stand on electoral lists “in civilian life”, reminds 20 minutes Caroline Marchand, departmental co-secretary of SNUipp-FSU 93. On the other hand, “we always have a reserve period as a civil servant. As a citizen, there is no censorship, whether in Seine-Saint-Denis or elsewhere. We have every right to be politically and associatively involved. She also cites the case of a school principal who presents herself on a list.
A “precaution”
The elected union representative sees this message as a “precaution”. “There may be mayors, deputies who could manipulate teachers. “Especially since the period is sensitive: decisions to open or close classes must be taken on June 25.
This type of message is not “new”, adds Caroline Marchand, who recalls that similar messages are sent to each election.
This period of teacher reserve refers to a “republican tradition”, as underlined it the SNUipp-FSU of Seine-et-Marne in a note published in February 2019. The message circulating on social networks also refers to this “use”.
This reserve period has three objectives, detailed the Ministry of National Education in its response to a deputy who was already questioning this “tradition” during the holding of cantonal elections. This period serves to “preserve the necessary political neutrality of the administrative authority during an election period and the impartiality of the agents”, the ministry replied.
It “also prevents the agents from being put in difficulty because they would attend, within the framework of the service, a public demonstration during which could arise a political discussion”. Finally, “it makes it possible to ensure that no civil servant will use his function for electoral propaganda purposes. “
In its response, the ministry finally underlines that the law of 13 July 1983 on the rights and obligations of civil servants provides that “the freedom of opinion is guaranteed to civil servants”.