Beaucaire Mayor Defies Court Order to Remove Christmas Crèche

The RN mayor of Beaucaire refuses to comply with a ruling citing laïcité, facing financial penalties and legal escalation.

The administrative court in Nîmes ordered the removal of a Christmas crèche from Beaucaire's town hall, citing France's secularism laws.
Mayor Nelson Chaudon of the far-right Rassemblement National party has refused to comply, stating the crèche represents local tradition.
The court imposed a daily fine of €1,000 for non-compliance, which began accruing after the December 23 deadline.
Chaudon organized a local referendum where 98.56% of participants supported keeping the crèche, though only 1,680 of the town's 15,000 residents voted.
The mayor plans to appeal the court decision and has called for public donations to fund next year’s crèche, emphasizing his stance on preserving cultural traditions.