French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to secure 2nd consecutive term. In France, the choice is between two leaders with starkly different ideologies, incumbent president and centrist leader, Emmanuel Macron and on the other hand, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen.

French Presidential Election 2022: Macron looking to secure a second consecutive term

In France, ballets have opened across the nation and people will soon decide who will be the next French President. The choices between two leaders with starkly different ideologies, incumbent president and centrist leader, Emmanuel Macron and on the other hand, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen.

French Presidential election 2022: Will Emmanuel Macron secure a second term?

French Presidential election 2022 and here we take a look back at the key moments in Emmanuel Macron's Presidency.

French Presidential election 2022: Key moments in Emmanuel Macron's Presidency

France's National Front tasted first electoral success in in 1893. Watch this report where we decode the Front's rise to prominence.

The history of France's far right: Decoding Front's rise to prominence

Cometh election season in France, cometh controversies over hijab!&nbsp;

The headscarf of Muslim women has emerged as a polarising issue in the presidential election yet again. France is divided between the top two presidential candidates – centrist Emmanuel Macron &amp; far-right Marine Le Pen. &nbsp;

The final round of the debate started with rising cost of living &amp; economic woes but kept shuttling between Islam &amp; immigration. Towards the latter part of the debate, both contenders finally poured their hearts out on one subject – the hijab. This is an on-&amp;-off debate across France. Elections and hate crimes rake up this latent issue as and when it suits their narrative. So, how did the hijab take center stage in French politics? Is it being used as a political tool? And what does this tell us about French secularism? &nbsp;

Muslims in France&nbsp;

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Muslims, majorly from Africa, started pouring into France. After World War I, thousands from former French colonies who fought on the republic’s side were granted asylum. France even opened its borders to immigrant manpower. It was only in 1967 that their population topped one million. Today, it stands at about 5.7 million, which is nearly 9% of France’s population. The country is home to the largest group of Muslims in Europe. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="acd370e8-0ca7-4ac7-b90c-5d4419727b2c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GFX_1.jpg" />

How did Islam take centre-stage in French politics?&nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a04c7707-3326-40f1-bbfc-0b81fa55b045" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download%20-%202022-04-23T104454.140.jpg" />

There were spats all along the ’90s and early 2000s. But 2015 was a turning point for France. The terrorist attack against the staff of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo shook the republic to its core. Since then, the country has faced a succession of such attacks by Islamist groups. &nbsp;

The country has been grappling with one question – “why has France become a target”. If you ask the Right, they immediately blame immigration. The Left slams the ‘inept’ policies posed to fight terrorism. And for the Centre, it is the ideals. Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron strongly believes that separatists see France as a fertile ground to propagate radicalism. Paris is a strong contender for ‘freedom of expression &amp; right to believe’, and these are ideals that go against the playbook of Islamists.&nbsp;

So to combat this growing hostility, the French parliament has approved exceptional measures, which have led to thousands of crackdowns, raids and house arrests. But in the process of hunting down separatists, French authorities have disproportionately targetted innocent Muslims. The signs of totalitarianism begin at the margins – but rarely do they end there.&nbsp;

Over the years, security concerns have shifted from domestic threats to global terrorism. The 2015 Paris gun assault and 2020 Nice knife attack show that while there is an allegiance to global terror groups, mostly the perpetrators are young Muslim men living in France. So why has the European nation become such a prominent target for homegrown Islamist terrorism?&nbsp;

Firstly, France’s long history of colonising Muslim countries is hurting contemporary times. While under French rule, Muslims were robbed of their identity. Many jihadists see this as a reason to target the European republic. &nbsp;

Secondly, French institutions have failed to fully embrace Muslims. Their close to non-existent integration policies have pushed the immigrants into the suburbs. Even second and third generations of immigrants are seen as ‘less-French’ by the natives. &nbsp;

An obsession with politicising Islam&nbsp;

France’s obsession with Islam is based on Laicite – which roughly translates to secularism. The concept relies on a division between the state and private spheres. And, religion has no place in public spaces.

“The Republic does not recognize any religion but protects the freedom of conscience and worship”, says Laicite.

It was passed in 1905 to separate the Catholic church and the French republic.

Over the years, this concept has been in confrontation with many religious practices, like Sikhs and Jews. But the biggest tiff has been with the minority Muslim community. &nbsp;

The principle came into existence to defend religious freedom. But in recent times, leaders have interpreted the concept very differently. Laicite is being used as an instrument to target religious identity. From dictating dress code to tampering with religious education. &nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2f0f7be-e875-4cf2-9982-8c67b1e3f556" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GFX_2.jpg" />

<img alt="Brief 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce2ad4da-c856-435c-b7bd-df5c4e584ceb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GFX_3.jpg" />

Two visions for France: Emmanuel Macron vs Marine Le Pen&nbsp;

Like any far-right leader, Marine Le Pen is painting a picture where the majority is in some sense of danger. Her anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic attitudes are wrapped in the garb of French culture. &nbsp;

The daughter of an infamous nationalist politician who repeatedly spoke of Nazi gas chambers and the Holocaust as "a detail of the history of the Second World War", she has spent years trying to escape Jean-Marie Le Pen's toxic shadow.&nbsp;

This is her third attempt at the presidency. In the past few days, she has appeared the softest public version of herself to woo the left. Le pen has described the hijab as an “Islamist uniform imposed by people who have a radical vision of Islam.” These controversial statements have garnered her popularity. Her position in the current run-off signifies that things are changing in France. Divisive rhetoric holds political currency. Today, the country stands polarised like never before. &nbsp;

On the other hand, the centrist Emmanuel Macron has announced a ‘French makeover of Islam’, which means that practicing of faith will be regulated by the state. The aim is to integrate French Muslim citizens better with the French way of life. This is confusing to many because state-assigned leaders have struggled to gain community recognition. And ‘French Islam’ stands against the superseding principle of Laicite. Many experts believe that Macron is failing to see the irony. &nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 6" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e6e6840d-2e2f-405c-9e0a-8fe0f176af67" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download%20-%202022-04-23T104603.559.jpg" />

Days before schoolteacher Samuel Paty’s killing in 2020, Macron made a controversial statement. “Islam is a religion that is in crisis today all over the world. It is plagued by radical temptations and by a yearning for a reinvented jihad which is the destruction of the other.”

These comments did not sit well with the Islamic world. Protests broke out across West Asia and angry Muslims burned French products. &nbsp;

Defending his ban on headscarves in schools, Macron has said in his latest presidential debate that the decision aims to “shape minds for the future.” One might ask, how exactly a veil distracts from that aim.&nbsp;

French Muslims in Dilemma&nbsp;

France is a country with a large, poor, unintegrated Muslim population that feels that its identity and religion are under attack by its host state.&nbsp;

Politicians have done very little to divert fear and anger from the terror attacks that have plagued French society. The millions of innocent French Muslims have paid the price through xenophobia. According to a 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom,&nbsp;

“42% of Muslims declared having experienced discrimination due to their religion, a figure which rises to 60% among women who wear a headscarf”. Independent polling puts the figure at a much higher rate.&nbsp;

Islam is followed by less than 9% of French people, but it continues to dominate debates in public spaces &amp; prime time TV – without any voice from the community, especially hijabi women. &nbsp;&nbsp;

For Muslims today, voting is like Hobson’s choice. They have two leaders from opposing spectrum of ideologies, yet their vision of Islam is the same. Both Macron &amp; Le Pen wish for a ‘French way of life’, where religion cannot be celebrated unless permitted to. A good Muslim will always be invisible to the eye. And for generations to come, French Muslims will have to prove their ‘Frenchness’ everywhere they go.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Cometh election season in France, cometh controversies over hijab! The headscarf of Muslim women has emerged as a polarising issue in the presidential election yet again.

Cometh election season in France, cometh controversies over hijab! The headscarf of Muslim women has emerged as a polarising issue in the presidential election yet again. France is divided between the top two presidential candidates – centrist Emmanuel Macron & far-right Marine Le Pen. The final round of the debate started with rising cost of living & economic woes but kept shuttling between Islam & immigration. Towards the latter part of the debate, both contenders finally poured their hearts out on one subject – the hijab. This is an on-&-off debate across France. Elections and hate crimes rake up this latent issue as and when it suits their narrative. So, how did the hijab take center stage in French politics? Is it being used as a political tool? And what does this tell us about French secularism? Muslims in France Since the beginning of the 20th century, Muslims, majorly from Africa, started pouring into France. After World War I, thousands from former French colonies who fought on the republic’s side were granted asylum. France even opened its borders to immigrant manpower. It was only in 1967 that their population topped one million. Today, it stands at about 5.7 million, which is nearly 9% of France’s population. The country is home to the largest group of Muslims in Europe. How did Islam take centre-stage in French politics? There were spats all along the ’90s and early 2000s. But 2015 was a turning point for France. The terrorist attack against the staff of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo shook the republic to its core. Since then, the country has faced a succession of such attacks by Islamist groups. The country has been grappling with one question – “why has France become a target”. If you ask the Right, they immediately blame immigration. The Left slams the ‘inept’ policies posed to fight terrorism. And for the Centre, it is the ideals. Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron strongly believes that separatists see France as a fertile ground to propagate radicalism. Paris is a strong contender for ‘freedom of expression & right to believe’, and these are ideals that go against the playbook of Islamists. So to combat this growing hostility, the French parliament has approved exceptional measures, which have led to thousands of crackdowns, raids and house arrests. But in the process of hunting down separatists, French authorities have disproportionately targetted innocent Muslims. The signs of totalitarianism begin at the margins – but rarely do they end there. Over the years, security concerns have shifted from domestic threats to global terrorism. The 2015 Paris gun assault and 2020 Nice knife attack show that while there is an allegiance to global terror groups, mostly the perpetrators are young Muslim men living in France. So why has the European nation become such a prominent target for homegrown Islamist terrorism? Firstly, France’s long history of colonising Muslim countries is hurting contemporary times. While under French rule, Muslims were robbed of their identity. Many jihadists see this as a reason to target the European republic. Secondly, French institutions have failed to fully embrace Muslims. Their close to non-existent integration policies have pushed the immigrants into the suburbs. Even second and third generations of immigrants are seen as ‘less-French’ by the natives. An obsession with politicising Islam France’s obsession with Islam is based on Laicite – which roughly translates to secularism. The concept relies on a division between the state and private spheres. And, religion has no place in public spaces. “The Republic does not recognize any religion but protects the freedom of conscience and worship”, says Laicite. It was passed in 1905 to separate the Catholic church and the French republic. Over the years, this concept has been in confrontation with many religious practices, like Sikhs and Jews. But the biggest tiff has been with the minority Muslim community. The principle came into existence to defend religious freedom. But in recent times, leaders have interpreted the concept very differently. Laicite is being used as an instrument to target religious identity. From dictating dress code to tampering with religious education. Two visions for France: Emmanuel Macron vs Marine Le Pen Like any far-right leader, Marine Le Pen is painting a picture where the majority is in some sense of danger. Her anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic attitudes are wrapped in the garb of French culture. The daughter of an infamous nationalist politician who repeatedly spoke of Nazi gas chambers and the Holocaust as "a detail of the history of the Second World War", she has spent years trying to escape Jean-Marie Le Pen's toxic shadow. This is her third attempt at the presidency. In the past few days, she has appeared the softest public version of herself to woo the left. Le pen has described the hijab as an “Islamist uniform imposed by people who have a radical vision of Islam.” These controversial statements have garnered her popularity. Her position in the current run-off signifies that things are changing in France. Divisive rhetoric holds political currency. Today, the country stands polarised like never before. On the other hand, the centrist Emmanuel Macron has announced a ‘French makeover of Islam’, which means that practicing of faith will be regulated by the state. The aim is to integrate French Muslim citizens better with the French way of life. This is confusing to many because state-assigned leaders have struggled to gain community recognition. And ‘French Islam’ stands against the superseding principle of Laicite. Many experts believe that Macron is failing to see the irony. Days before schoolteacher Samuel Paty’s killing in 2020, Macron made a controversial statement. “Islam is a religion that is in crisis today all over the world. It is plagued by radical temptations and by a yearning for a reinvented jihad which is the destruction of the other.” These comments did not sit well with the Islamic world. Protests broke out across West Asia and angry Muslims burned French products. Defending his ban on headscarves in schools, Macron has said in his latest presidential debate that the decision aims to “shape minds for the future.” One might ask, how exactly a veil distracts from that aim. French Muslims in Dilemma France is a country with a large, poor, unintegrated Muslim population that feels that its identity and religion are under attack by its host state. Politicians have done very little to divert fear and anger from the terror attacks that have plagued French society. The millions of innocent French Muslims have paid the price through xenophobia. According to a 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom, “42% of Muslims declared having experienced discrimination due to their religion, a figure which rises to 60% among women who wear a headscarf”. Independent polling puts the figure at a much higher rate. Islam is followed by less than 9% of French people, but it continues to dominate debates in public spaces & prime time TV – without any voice from the community, especially hijabi women. For Muslims today, voting is like Hobson’s choice. They have two leaders from opposing spectrum of ideologies, yet their vision of Islam is the same. Both Macron & Le Pen wish for a ‘French way of life’, where religion cannot be celebrated unless permitted to. A good Muslim will always be invisible to the eye. And for generations to come, French Muslims will have to prove their ‘Frenchness’ everywhere they go. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Un‘veil’ing France-Islam relations 

In France, after an aggressive pre-election debate, rival presidential candidates are making a final push for votes with just a day to go before Sunday's election runoff. All eyes are on who will be the next French President.

French Presidential election 2022: Who will be the next French President?

French Presidential election 2022: Decoding the two visions for France

French Presidential election 2022: The poll trend before the final vote

In France, after an aggressive pre-election debate, rival presidential candidates are making a final push for votes with just two days to go before Sunday's election runoff, the two are back on the campaign trail.

French Presidential Elections: After fiery pre-election debate, Macron, Le Pen are making final push for votes

In France, the race for the presidential election is in its final days of campaigning. Days ahead of the final vote in one of the biggest economies, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is trying to present a more moderate face to the voters.

French Presidential election 2022: Le Pen tones down Hijab ban rhetoric

With 5 days to go for French Presidential elections, has far-right candidate Marine Le Pen softened her stand on Hijab? Le Pen had promised to ban hijab if voted to power, her party now says the ban will be implemented 'little by little'. What does that mean?

Gravitas: France Election: Le Pen softens stand on Hijab

French Presidential Election 2022: Macron's polling lead over Le Pen widens

The final week of the French Presidential race: Macron & Le Pen trade heated barbs

The final week of the French Presidential race: Le Pen allies tone down Hijab Rhetoric

French Presidential election in underway and rivals are gearing up for debate. Now, the climate change has become a key talking point.

French Presidential election 2022: Climate change becomes a key talking point

In less than a week to go for the second phase of the French polls and the race to the Elysee palace is now heating up. With both the candidates centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen pulling all the stops to ensure they come out on top.

French Presidential election 2022: Emmanuel Macron & Le Pen gearing up for debate on April 20

As second round of French elections inches closer, thousands of anti-far right demonstrators marched across the country. As opponents of the presidential candidate Marine Le Pen with the goal of preventing her from winning elections against the incumbent Macron.

French Elections: Anti-far right protests across France, Le Pen calls demonstrations anti-democratic

Imran Khan the newly ousted Prime Minister in Pakistan may have lost the match but he is still hopeful to win the series. In a massive show of strength in Peshawar, the PTI held a rally when Imran Khan attacked the current government, questioned the judiciary and reiterated the call for early elections.

Imran Khan questions Pakistan's judiciary; holds massive rally, calls for fresh elections

The French Presidential election 2022 have entered its next phase. Emmanuel Macron & Marine Le Pen have emerged victorious in Round 1. They will face each other in Round 2 on April 24. Who has better chances of winning? Palki Sharma Upadhyay reports.

Gravitas: France Election: Macron & Le Pen win Round 1

After winning the first round of the Presidential elections incumbent French president Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen have made an aggressive start to the next phase of the campaign ahead of the country's presidential runoff vote on the 24th of April.

French Presidential Election 2022: France's Macron & Le Pen trade barbs ahead of runoff

IPSOS poll shows 40% voters under 35 years likely to abstain from elections. Voters say that candidates do not address their issues. Macron poised to win first round, first phase of polling to be held on 10th April.

Poll: 40% of voters under 35 years likely to abstain from voting in the French election

In France, the first round of voting for the presidential election concluded. Partial results after the first round are putting incumbent president Emmanuel Macron in first place ahead of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

French Presidential Election 2022: Early results put Macron ahead of Le Pen in round one

Australia's&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;Labor Party&nbsp;leader, Anthony Albanese, said Monday he was only "human" after being unable to remember the country's unemployment&nbsp;rate&nbsp;on the first full day of campaigning for May 21 elections.

Albanese's party is ahead in the polls as he seeks to oust Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative coalition government.

The economy is a key issue for many of the country's 17 million voters.

&nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-prime-minister-scott-morrison-announces-general-elections-on-may-21-469899">Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces general elections on May 21</a>

Asked to give the national&nbsp;jobless&nbsp;rate&nbsp;by a reporter, Albanese stumbled, replying: "The national unemployment&nbsp;rate&nbsp;at the moment is, I think it is 5 point...4, sorry, I am not sure what it is."

Australia's unemployment&nbsp;rate&nbsp;is at a 13-year low of 4.0 per cent, a level that Morrison has been touting as he warns voters not to trust Labour with the economy.

Albanese also skirted questions on the key interest that banks charge each other for overnight loans. Known as the bank&nbsp;rate, or the cash&nbsp;rate, it stands at 0.1 per cent.

"Earlier today I made a mistake. I'm human," Albanese said shortly afterwards.

Watch |&nbsp;Australian PM Scott Morrison calls federal election for May 21

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-scott-morrison-calls-federal-election-for-may-21-469909/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"But when I make a mistake I will fess up to it and I will set about correcting that mistake. I won't blame someone else. I will accept responsibility. That's what leaders do."

On a two-party basis, Labor leads the Liberal-National Party coalition by 53 per cent to 47 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll released this weekend.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-sentences-australian-for-hurling-wine-bottle-killing-man-469294">Singapore sentences Australian for hurling bottle, killing man in 'act of religious hostility toward Muslims'</a>

Asked similar questions later, Morrison gave the correct figures, adding his own government's prediction that the unemployment&nbsp;rate&nbsp;"is falling to a 50-year low".

Multiple surveys show the cost of living, with gasoline prices soaring since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is a key concern ahead of the election.

Australia's opposition Labor Party leader, Anthony Albanese, said Monday he was only "human" after being unable to remember the country's unemployment rate on the first full day of campaigning for May 21 elections.

Australia's opposition Labor Party leader, Anthony Albanese, said Monday he was only "human" after being unable to remember the country's unemployment rate on the first full day of campaigning for May 21 elections. Albanese's party is ahead in the polls as he seeks to oust Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative coalition government. The economy is a key issue for many of the country's 17 million voters. Also read | Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces general elections on May 21 Asked to give the national jobless rate by a reporter, Albanese stumbled, replying: "The national unemployment rate at the moment is, I think it is 5 point...4, sorry, I am not sure what it is." Australia's unemployment rate is at a 13-year low of 4.0 per cent, a level that Morrison has been touting as he warns voters not to trust Labour with the economy. Albanese also skirted questions on the key interest that banks charge each other for overnight loans. Known as the bank rate, or the cash rate, it stands at 0.1 per cent. "Earlier today I made a mistake. I'm human," Albanese said shortly afterwards. Watch | Australian PM Scott Morrison calls federal election for May 21 "But when I make a mistake I will fess up to it and I will set about correcting that mistake. I won't blame someone else. I will accept responsibility. That's what leaders do." On a two-party basis, Labor leads the Liberal-National Party coalition by 53 per cent to 47 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll released this weekend. Also read | Singapore sentences Australian for hurling bottle, killing man in 'act of religious hostility toward Muslims' Asked similar questions later, Morrison gave the correct figures, adding his own government's prediction that the unemployment rate "is falling to a 50-year low". Multiple surveys show the cost of living, with gasoline prices soaring since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is a key concern ahead of the election.

Australia's opposition leader forgets jobless rate, says 'I made a mistake. I'm human'

Polling stations have opened across France for the first round of voting of French presidential election 2022. The second round of voting to be held on April 24th. Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen emerge as top candidates.

French Presidential Election 2022: Le Pen's strategy to focus on domestic issues pays off

Macron's election strategy backfires? Did Macron overlook domestic issues?

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has announced the dates for the country's next general election that have been called for May 21. PM Morrison will be fighting to stay in power.

Australian PM Scott Morrison calls federal election for May 21

The French Presidential election is underway and the first round of polling is stated to be held on April 10th. Now, Parisians are worried about abstention.

French Presidential Election 2022: Parisians worried about abstention

Europe's most formidable country is heading to the polls. France is voting to elect its next President. The outcome will determine the future of Europe. Is Emmanuel Macron going to win? Or will the Élysée Palace get a new leader? Palki Sharma Upadhyay decodes.

Gravitas Plus | France Elections: Why you should care

The French Presidential election is underway and the first round of polling is stated to be held on April 10th. Now, Election campaigning has ended in France.

French Presidential election 2022: Election campaigning ends in France ahead of the first round

The first phase of polling in France is to be held on April 10th. In a recent update on French elections, Le Pen has notched the highest ever score in the opinion polls.

French Presidential election 2022: Macron's lead slips in French polls as Le Pen is closing the gap

The French Presidential election is underway and the first round of polling is stated to be held on April 10th. Now, Macron has targeted the 'far-right' before polls.

French Presidential election 2022: Emmanuel Macron targets 'far-right' before polls

elections-0

Elections, News on Elections, stories on Elections, articles on Elections, Elections stories at Wion, Elections news, Elections latest news

elections 0