French Government Split Over Proposed Ban on Hijabs in Sports

Several members of the executive have publicly expressed opposing positions. The Minister of Sports, Marie Barsacq, and the Minister of National Education, Élisabeth Borne, have been cautious about a ban. Conversely, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, and the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, have argued for a ban, considering the wearing of the veil as a manifestation of "entryism."

Gérald Darmanin notably criticized, on TF1, what he described as the "naivety" of some political leaders on this subject. On Sunday, Bruno Retailleau had already expressed his "radical disagreement" with Marie Barsacq’s position, evoking an "Islamist entryism" in sport, without however providing any figures to support his claims.

These public disagreements led the Prime Minister to react. At the majority’s breakfast at Matignon, François Bayrou stated that "internal criticism between ministers is unacceptable," also indicating that he would personally take measures to restore order.

In this context, Marie Barsacq, Bruno Retailleau, Gérald Darmanin and Aurore Bergé (minister in charge of Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination) were summoned to Matignon at 12:30 p.m. for a clarification meeting, reports Le Parisien.