"Not a single student should hesitate to go to class": the Assembly adopts a text against anti-Semitism at university

On Wednesday, May 7, MPs approved at first reading a Senate bill aimed at combating anti-Semitism and racism in higher education, which notably provides for the creation of a "common disciplinary section" for institutions in the same academic region.

The bill on the fight "against anti-Semitism, racism, discrimination, violence, and hatred in higher education," led by MPs Constance Le Grip (Renaissance) and Pierre Henriet (Horizons), was adopted by 131 votes in favor and 28 against, with only LFI and the Communist group voting against. It was unanimously approved in the Senate on February 20.

The bill followed a "flash" fact-finding mission launched in the upper house after accusations of anti-Semitism surrounding a pro-Palestinian conference at Sciences Po Paris.

"Not a single student should hesitate to go to class because they fear being exposed to anti-Semitism," Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste insisted at the opening of the discussions on Tuesday.

"Since October 7, 2023, we have witnessed an alarming increase in anti-Semitic acts in our society, and higher education, unfortunately, has not been spared," he added.

The debates quickly became tense in the chamber, with LFI often finding itself isolated in the face of criticism from the government coalition and the far right.

Accusing the government of "exploiting anti-Semitism to silence voices for peace on the genocide in Palestine," LFI was in turn accused of contributing to the rise of anti-Semitism and of electoral opportunism.

The deputies reinstated Article 3, deleted in committee, creating a "common disciplinary section" for establishments in the same academic region.

A government amendment clarified that it could only be referred to the president or director of each establishment, and not to the rector of the academic region, with the aim of addressing concerns about the autonomy of establishments.

LFI MP Louis Boyard expressed concern about the creation of a body under the control of the Minister of Higher Education which will have "the power to exclude students from their university."

According to the text, the new section will be chaired by a member of the administrative court and will include "representatives of the administration, institutions, representatives of teaching staff, and representatives of users. So, you cannot say that we would be in a free will and that it would be the government that would have control over this section," replied Pierre Henriet.