Question 6770 — higher education

Summary

Ms. Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi draws the attention of the Minister to the Minister of State, Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research, responsible for higher education and research, to the need to guarantee the protection of academic freedom within the Lumière Lyon 2 University. On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the special advisor to the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region announced the suspension regional aid allocated to the Lumière Lyon 2 University, citing an alleged “Islamo-leftist drift” of the establishment. It is deeply concerning that academics may be subject to pressure or questioning for expressing positions on the dramatic situation unfolding in Gaza. Freedom of expression, like academic freedom, constitutes a pillar of democracy and cannot be weakened by local political decisions. Such interference constitutes a serious attack on fundamental rights and endangers the free exercise of teaching and research missions. Academic freedom constitutes a fundamental principle recognized by the laws of the Republic. The Constitutional Council expressly affirmed this in 1984, recalling that "teaching and research functions not only enable but demand, in the very interest of the service, that the free expression and independence of staff be guaranteed.” Likewise, article L. 141-6 of the education code provides that the public service of higher education is “independent of any political, economic, religious or ideological influence”. In this context, the MP is concerned that a decision of a political nature relating to the financing of an establishment higher education could undermine this fundamental principle and create a dangerous precedent. She questions him on the measures that the Government intends to take to ensure respect for academic freedom and prevent any political interference in the management of universities.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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