Why does the ecologist Éric Piolle want to authorize the burkini in the swimming pools of Grenoble?

Jean-Luc Boujon (in Grenoble), edited by Solène Leroux 6:19 a.m., May 4, 2022, modified at 6:19 a.m., May 4, 2022

A decision that is far from unanimous.

Éric Piolle wishes to authorize the wearing of the burkini in the municipal swimming pools of Grenoble, of which he is the mayor.

Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, warned: he will cut the subsidies granted to the city if the ecologist goes to the end of his will.

A deliberation to this effect will be presented to the Grenoble city council on May 16.

This threat does not seem to shake Éric Piolle.

The new regulations for Grenoble swimming pools will be presented to the municipal council on May 16.

A text that does not specifically mention the word "burkini".

But its article 10 authorizes it in fact by removing any notion of prohibition of swimsuits of a certain length.

For the mayor of Grenoble, Éric Piolle, the public service must be open to all.

A "social progress" for Piolle

"It's social progress in the accessibility of public service. Everyone can come to the pool dressed as they wish, as long as they respect hygiene and safety", insists the city councilor.

"We are profoundly universalists, and therefore we want this equality before the public service rather than a text which regulates in particular the dress of women, as often in history."

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And to add: "You can swim with a covering swimsuit if you want to protect yourself from the sun or for religious beliefs, that is none of our business."

For the elected ecologist, "as long as you respect the rules of hygiene and safety, the Grenoble swimming pool is open to you".

A "bad message" according to the opposition

Including on the left, the measure does not only make people happy.

Cécile Cenatiempo, chairs the opposition group "Nouvel Air Socialistes et Related" on the municipal council of the city of three roses.

"It's a bad message sent to these millions of women who are fighting to be able to dress as they want, not to be subjected to the patriarchy imposed by certain religions," she explains.

"We don't want to give credit to that."

The municipal council of May 16 therefore promises to be stormy.

To drive the point home, Éric Piolle highlights the example of Rennes in Brittany, where the burkini has been authorized since 2018. "It's going very well," he says.