I promise fines for Muslims wearing headscarves: French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen

Agencies | Paris

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Marine Le Pen, a far-right presidential contender in France, promised to punish Muslims who wear headscarves in public as politicians made a final push for votes before an election that is becoming tighter.

President Emmanuel Macron gained an impregnable lead ahead of the first round of voting on Sunday, but Le Pen has narrowed the gap and believes she has a real chance of winning the April 24 run-off.

With France's main right- and left-wing parties in shambles, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is on track to finish third, and he still thinks he can force a run-off.

With France's main right- and left-wing parties in shambles, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is on track to finish third, and he still thinks he can force a run-off.

Le Pen outlined how her commitment to prohibiting the headscarf in all public venues would be implemented to RTL radio, stating it would be enforced by police in the same manner that seatbelts are imposed in cars.

"People will be given a fine in the same way that it is illegal to not wear your seat belt. It seems to me that the police are very much able to enforce this measure," she said.

Le Pen has said she will use referendums to try to avoid constitutional challenges to many of her proposed laws on the basis that they are discriminatory and an infringement on personal freedoms.

Previous legislation in France banning obvious religious symbols in schools or full-face coverings in public was allowed on the basis that it applied to all citizens and in specific settings.

Le Pen, 53, has toned down her anti-immigration rhetoric during campaigning this year and has focused instead on household spending, putting her closer than ever to power, polls indicate.

The latest surveys suggest she is within striking distance of centrist Macron if the two of them come top in the first round of voting on Sunday.

A second-round run-off election is set for April 24, with surveys showing Macron with a modest advantage of 54 percent to 46 percent over Le Pen.

Melenchon is also surging ahead of the election, and he's touting his chances of surprising voters.

The crisis in Ukraine, as well as stresses on the health system following two years of Covid-19, are among the top voter concerns, trailing only inflation and earnings.

France is home to Western Europe's largest Muslim population, a group that has seen rising prejudice in recent years.