Bis repetita.

As during his first stint in the Assembly, the examination of the separatism bill started at second reading Monday, at the Palais Bourbon, began on the veil, an "obsession of the right", lambasted the majority.

Neutrality for users of the public service, ban on religious symbols for occasional employees, for school guides, at university… The LRs have defended a slew of amendments, all rejected, around the ban on the veil.

The certified copy of the first debates in the National Assembly, five months ago.

The "obsession" of the right

For this second round, LR had also chosen to keep his attacking duo, the deputies Eric Ciotti and Annie Genevard. On the government side and the majority, anxious to keep the "balance" of the text, the same defensive organization: criticism of the unconstitutionality of the proposals and denunciation of the "stigmatization" of a single religion, Islam. As he has already said on multiple occasions, the general rapporteur of the law proposal "respect for the principles of the Republic", Florent Boudié denounced the "obsession" of the right on the question of the veil, to the chagrin of the LR opposition which criticized the majority for its "lack of courage".

"The Senate had this courage," said Eric Ciotti, recalling that the Upper Assembly had given the text a push to the right, by adopting a series of anti-veil amendments.

The senators were also opposed to the authorization regime that the government wishes to put in place for home education.

Two "red lines" for the government and the presidential majority.

Meeting before the discussion in session, the special committee chaired by François de Rugy (LREM) has already countered the bill as it left the Luxembourg Palace.

And it is no surprise that the hemicycle swept aside the LR amendments.

"The Islamist OPA"

The only false note is that the Modem co-rapporteur Laurence Vichnievsky has repeatedly said that she is in favor “on a personal basis” for the amendments aiming at the neutrality of “occasional public service employees”. A knife blow without effect on the refusal firmly displayed by the majority. Promised to the worst turpitudes and polemics on a text which by small touches attacks the balances of the law of 1905, the freedoms of worship, association and education, the majority wants to continue to thwart the forecasts. The text was widely adopted at first reading in February at the Palais Bourbon (347 votes in favor, 151 votes against and 65 abstentions) before passing into the hands of the right-wing majority Senate.

The bill now has 108 articles, 18 of which were adopted in conformity by the Senate.

For this week of debates, just under 1,000 amendments must be considered.

The text should be definitively adopted by Parliament before the end of July.

Presented as the remedy against the "Islamist takeover bid", it contains a battery of measures on the neutrality of the public service, the fight against online hatred, the supervision of family education, the reinforced control of associations, a better transparency of cults and their financing, and even the fight against virginity certificates, polygamy or forced marriages.

More critical oppositions

In the aftermath of the results of the regional and departmental elections which sounded like a kick-off for the 2022 presidential campaign, the second reading of this controversial bill seems to enjoy relative indifference. But against the backdrop of the race for the Elysee, the oppositions on the right and on the left should express their criticism more harshly on a bill whose "balance" should not be called into question during the sessions. The Socialist group, which abstained on the bill at first reading, thus unsuccessfully defended a preliminary rejection motion centered on threats to freedom of association.

Denouncing the "separatism of the rich" and the political ulterior motives of the executive accused of going "hunting on the lands of the RN", LFI and the Communists have fired red balls on this "law made to point the finger at Muslims", according to the leader of rebellious Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

The LR will return to the assault of the veil with amendments on the wearing of the burkini, religious symbols for minors or the prohibition of "community lists during elections".

Society

Bill against separatism: Amendments against the wearing of the veil for girls inadmissible

Society

No, the veil is not prohibited for mothers accompanying school trips

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