Socialist Party in Montpellier Rejects Veiled Candidate, Citing Secularism

Samira Yakhlef, mother of six children, is at the heart of small campaign controversies in Montpellier, fueling social networks and discussions during the electoral period. According to Midi Libre, she was "excluded" from the list led by Michaël Delafosse, on the grounds that she wears a veil.

A young militant of the French Communist Party, this veiled candidate has decided to join the municipal debate. She justifies her decision to run as a candidate by her desire to change the situation in her locality. "I wanted to continue this commitment, considering that it is by being elected that we can make things change," she says, concerned about improving the daily life of working-class neighborhoods.

The agreement sealed between her party and the Socialists allowed the inclusion of twelve Communist militants among the 65 running mates. Positioned by the Communist Party, in 4th position among the twelve candidates proposed to the Socialist Party, her veil handicapped her positioning on the list, in the name of a secularism required by the president of the opposition group, "The Left for Montpellier", on the Municipal Council.

Faced with this obstinacy of Mickaël Delafosse, the three comrades of the young woman, Maxime Michaud, Marion Kissous, and Hugo Ros, decided to withdraw from the list. "The agreement provided for our sovereignty in the choice of candidates. Yet, we were asked for our CVs to assess the ’qualitative’ aspect," intervenes Hugo Ros, another candidate for the candidacy, who recalls that it was proposed to Samira her repositioning at the end of the list, in a non-eligible position.

For his part, the history and geography professor, Mickaël Delafosse, assumes his choice by indicating that he is viscerally attached to this secularism. "It is the spirit of concord, the foundation of the Republic. And I consider that a veiled woman cannot, for example, celebrate a republican marriage or baptism. The exercise of public service involves an obligation of neutrality," he says, assuring that his will was in no way to hurt. For Samura Yakhlef, the veil also represents "my identity, my well-being. And that doesn’t prevent me from participating in feminist marches."