Newsletters
The French president Emmanuel Macron expressed his backing for a ban on headscarves in sports competitions on Tuesday. Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with broadcaster TF1, “I stand by the Olympic Charter, which prohibits the wearing of all religious symbols in competitions.”
He drew a distinction between engaging in sports at facilities and competing in events, noting that the decision to ban headscarves rests with each individual federation. He added, “When you're in a competition, it's not the place for a religious symbol,” and called for “pragmatism” since French law does not prohibit it.
Macron also addressed questions regarding the possibility of holding referendums on topics like immigration, pension reform, assisted dying and public finances, expressing his support for the idea of holding multiple referendums in the coming months.
He added, “The idea is that we can consult our fellow citizens on major economic or social reforms. Between now and June, the government will propose several reforms, and then I will see which ones.”
While dismissing a referendum to reverse the retirement reform raising the age to 64 and deeming a referendum on immigration "ineffective," Macron did not rule out the option of holding one on assisted dying "in the event of a deadlock" and on public finances.
3 min read
