Jordan Bardella, leader of the Rassemblement National (RN), said Monday that his party proposes a referendum on banning the veil in public [1].
The proposal signals a push to codify strict secularism laws through direct public vote, potentially shifting France's legal approach to religious attire.
Speaking during a meeting of the RN bureau on Aug. 31 [1], Bardella responded to reports that the party is preparing for the 2027 presidential election [2]. He said that the party intends to ask French citizens to decide on the issue of wearing the veil via a referendum [1].
Bardella sought to clarify the enforcement mechanism of such a ban. "It is not about setting up a clothing police," he said [2].
Despite this clarification, the party's specific methods of enforcement remain a point of contention. Some reports indicate the RN intends to sanction the wearing of the veil in public spaces through the use of fines [2]. This creates a tension between the goal of avoiding a specialized "clothing police" and the implementation of financial penalties.
Legal experts and government officials have raised concerns regarding the proposal. Some members of the current government have expressed doubt regarding the constitutionality, and the practical applicability, of such a ban [2].
Bardella said that while the party will propose the referendum to the French people, the goal remains a focus on Islamist ideology rather than mere attire [2].
“"It is not about setting up a clothing police."”
By proposing a referendum, Bardella is attempting to bypass traditional legislative hurdles and judicial reviews that typically block veil bans on human rights grounds. If the Rassemblement National wins the 2027 election, using a direct democratic mandate would provide the political cover necessary to implement sanctions that might otherwise be struck down by the Constitutional Council.
