Doubts for future of the Halde

A LEADING anti-racism charity boss has questioned France’s will to tackle discrimination as the future leadership and funding of its top equality watchdog La Halde is in doubt.

Louis Schweitzer ends his five-year term at the Haute Autorité de Lutte contre les Discriminations et pour l'Egalité (Halde) this month, after leading it since its creation by Jacques Chirac in 2005.

It received 10,700 requests for help last year (up from 8,000 in 2008) and is now a familiar name to a majority of people in France.

However SOS Racisme director Guillaume Ayné said that, while they had welcomed the creation of France’s first discrimination watchdog, its budget of €11million made it the "worst-funded public body."

The Halde’s request to parliament for €2 million extra this year was refused by MPs, who agreed €324,000 instead. "Even worse, two MPs wanted its funding cut," Mr Ayné said.

"It is important to have such an authority, but there is still a lack of real political will in France on this."

While some pundits say Mr Schweitzer, the former boss of Renault, was a good choice to lead the Halde because his background and contacts helped it to be taken seriously, Mr Ayné said his links with big business sent out mixed messages.

"It is true he has done a lot to raise the Halde’s profile and has been a strong defender of equality. However he is on the boards of many of the largest public companies, which raises questions over his determination to see legal action against companies."

He said he hoped to see the Halde use mediation less and help more complainants take court action. "We must show companies and housing bodies they cannot get away with discriminating. It’s important that we get trials."

Socialist politician Malek Boutih (a former president of SOS Racisme) and Urban Affairs Minister Fadela Amara are among those rumoured to be in the running for Halde presidency although nothing is confirmed.