There has been a bit of chuntering in the past few years about French town halls' right to fly foreign nations flags alongside the uncontroversial French, European Union or regional ones.
Ukrainian flags went up on the majority of town halls as soon as the full scale invasion started. More recently and more controversially, Palestinian flags have been appearing, and occasionally, Israeli flags, albeit on a more limited scale.
Loches Town Hall (Fr. Hôtel de Ville) flying the Ukrainian and French flags.
But town halls are supposed to abide by a principle of neutrality when providing public services. Several times individual local authorities have been challenged in the courts over the flags they've chosen to fly. These challenges are always treated on a case by case basis, and don't always result in similar outcomes.
There is no law requiring any flag at all be displayed, not even the French flag. So any flag must pass the test of being considered politically and religiously neutral if it is being displayed by a public body. Everyone's freedom of conscience and dignity must be respected, all citizens must be treated equally no matter what their convictions.
In cases that have gone to court over the flying of Ukranian flags the judgements have been that it is not an infringement of neutrality, but a demonstration of solidarity, with a nation that has been the victim of agression. Palestinian flags are allowed in situations where the flag is flown for a short time, also to express humanitarian solidarity with the victims in Gaza. These temporary flags, and those on town halls where there are no complaints, are tolerated. Some town halls habitually fly flags for specific occasions eg the Olympics, Pride Week.
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