The administrative court of Fort-de-France has annulled a 2023 decision by the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (CTM) that recognized the Creole language as a co-official language alongside French. This ruling follows an appeal by the prefect of Martinique, Jean-Christophe Bouvier, who argued that the decision violated constitutional provisions regarding the use of the French language in public law. The court's judgment emphasizes that while Creole can be used daily, French remains the mandatory language for legal entities.
- The annulment of the CTM's decision was rooted in Article 2 of the French Constitution, which mandates the use of French for legal entities under public law. This legal framework was further supported by the law of August 4, 1994, which reinforces the prominence of the French language in official matters. Despite the annulment, the court clarified that the status of Creole as a regional language is not diminished, allowing for its continued use in everyday life.
