A long-standing proposal to ban the Islamic headscarf in public places has once again exposed divisions within France’s far-right National Rally party.
While Sébastien Chenu, the party’s vice president, has backed holding a referendum on banning the hijab in public buildings and gradually expanding restrictions, party president Jordan Bardella has expressed doubts about both the feasibility of the proposal and its potential political consequences.
According to reports, Marine Le Pen is seeking to manage the internal disagreement by leaving the final decision to voters through a national referendum, a move aimed at preventing deeper divisions within the party.
The issue of the Islamic headscarf has remained one of France’s most contentious political and social debates for years. With the country’s next presidential election approaching, it has once again become a major issue in the national political campaign.
