BFMTV survey – 6 out of 10 French people opposed to the wearing of religious symbols by accompanying parents

If they have been criticized by all of the left and some of the members of the group La Republique en marche, the recent statements by Jean-Michel Blanquer seem to find a broad echo among the French population. According to an Elabe survey conducted for BFMTV and broadcast on Wednesday, 71% of respondents agree with the sentence pronounced Sunday by the Minister of Education on our antenna. Namely, that "the veil in itself is not desirable in our society".

This vast majority has a generational divide. Indeed, more than three quarters of people aged 50 and over who have been surveyed say they share the opinion of Jean-Michel Blanquer. Conversely, more than half of 18-24 year olds disagree. The tenant of the rue de Grenelle is also supported by an overwhelming majority (8 out of 10) of voters of Marine Le Pen and Francois Fillon in the last presidential election.

Young people more flexible with the wearing of religious symbols

On the more specific subject of the veil worn by parents accompanying their children voluntarily on school trips, the French are also rather clear. More than 6 out of 10 respondents (61%) believe that accompanying parents should not wear religious symbols of any kind. Once again, this opinion decreases according to the age group, the 50-64 years being 65% to share it and the 18-24, 43%.

Politically, this issue generates significant differences. On the one hand, the voters of 2017 Marine Le Pen (81%) and Francois Fillon (77%) are overwhelmingly opposed to the wearing of religious symbols by accompanying parents. On the other hand, the non-voters (58%), the voters of Jean-Luc Melenchon (57%) and those of Emmanuel Macron (54%) are only a small majority to share this opinion.

The living-together convinces less and less

The more global theme of living together, while not unanimous, remains cleavage. According to the Elabe Institute, 55% of French people take a negative look at living together in France (8% "the population lives very badly together", 47% "quite badly") and 45% a positive view (3% " very good ", 42%" quite good "). The 18-24 are distinguished by being a large enough majority to take a positive look (59%) on living together.

Also, the opinion that the state does not pay enough attention to religious issues in France is today the most widespread: 45% of respondents are of this opinion, 30% believe that the state is concerned "just right" and 25% "too much". Politically, Fillon voters (54%) and the penitentiary (52%) feel that the state does not deal with it enough. Macronists, on the other hand, are divided between "the state is just concerned about religion" (42%) and "it does not do enough" (39%).

Survey conducted on the Internet, October 15 and 16, on a sample of 1002 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over. The representativeness of the sample was ensured according to the quota method applied to the following variables: sex, age and occupation of the interviewee after stratification by region and category of agglomeration.