“A Betrayal of Secularism”: Édouard Philippe “Dismayed” by LFI Proposal to Lift School Abaya Ban

Édouard Philippe has condemned La France Insoumise’s proposal to reverse the ban on abayas in schools, describing the initiative as “a betrayal of secularism.”

Philippe said he was dismayed by the proposal and defended the broader law governing religious symbols in schools. “The law that bans the wearing of religious symbols in schools is a good law, and it is being properly applied,” he said.

The dispute comes as French political parties and potential candidates position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The article also points to a crowded field of possible candidates seeking to succeed Emmanuel Macron.

“

The law that bans the wearing of religious symbols in schools is a good law, and it is being properly applied.