English information on the identity card: the French Academy is stepping up to the plate – Boursorama

The Academy has mandated lawyers who are preparing to seize the Council of State to suspend the creation of new identity cards.

The Académie Française has said it is ready to go to court to roll back the government. The reason for the wrath of the Immortals? The mentions in English which must appear on the future model of identity card, contrary to the Constitution, underlined Wednesday January 6 the perpetual secretary, Hélène Carrère d’Encausse.

“For a long time, the Academy reacted with statements and press releases that were listened to.

Today, all words are equal. Another form of intervention was needed

“said at

Figaro

the one who presides over the institution that guarantees the language in France. According to

Le Figaro

, it would be a first in more than 460 years of existence.

Contrary to the Constitution

The Academy estimates that by adding for example

“Surname”

next to “Name” or

“Given names”

next to “First names”, the model designed by the government contravenes the Constitution, which provides that “the language of the Republic is French”.

“We are undermining an essential principle,” said Hélène Carrère d’Encausse.

“Who decided to put French and English on an equal footing in this document?”

, she wonders. Moreover, if a European regulation obliges to translate “Identity card” into at least one other official language of the European Union, this text does not provide for other imposed translations.

According to

Le Figaro

, the Academy “therefore appointed a law firm” which wrote to Prime Minister Jean Castex “to ask him to repeal the provision creating the new national identity card”, without obtaining an answer until then.

These lawyers are preparing to seize the Council of State.

Contacted by

Le Figaro

, the services of the Prime Minister, but also those of the Ministry of the Interior, in charge of identity documents, acknowledged receipt of the letter, without making further comments.