In the controversy surrounding high donations for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, the French government has spoken up. The cultural affairs commissioner called for more serenity: "One can not be shocked by the fact that people feel that Notre-Dame de Paris is something like the soul of France," Stéphane Bern told Franceinfo. More than a billion euros have been donated to date for the reconstruction.
"I'd like to get two billion so nobody has to sleep on the street," Bern said. At the same time, one has to keep in mind that donations are a voluntary matter.
Bern responded to the criticisms that had been made many times over that in France, immense amounts of money had been collected for the cathedral, which had been badly damaged on Monday, while aid projects had to fight for every euro.
Billionaire families are also accused of tax deductions through deductible donations. Berne, however, pointed out that not a single major donor for Notre-Dame had asked for a donation receipt. Rather, the source of the donation readiness is "pure philanthropy - they are moved by what they see," the government official said.
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Notre-Dame: money, envy, quarrelBern spoke in favor of reconstructing Notre-Dame true to the original. "Let us have a little humility before the past and our history," Bern said.