Thread by @Mij_Europe

.@EmmanuelMacron Govt has lost control of its message on Islam & Islamism & his reputation is taking a massive battering abroad - esp in US (@nytimes @washingtonpost). But his approach - not without errors & misjudgements - is far more balanced than critics claim Thread 1/

Macron’s recent troubles stem from recent, stupid remarks made by his higher education minister, Frédérique Vidal, who announced an investigation into so-called “Islamo-gauchiste” (Islamo-leftist) influence at French universities 2/

“Islamo-gauchisme” has long been an issue in France. It means, in essence, an alleged alliance between parts of the French hard left (anti-capitalist & often anti-Semitic) with extreme & sometimes violent forms of Islamist ideology 3/

But the phrase has recently been hijacked by the far right as a way of disqualifying any attempt by Fr left to attack racist/marginalising attitudes or actions towards Fr Muslims. So it was incredibly foolish for Vidal & other ministers to use term - even if phenomenon exists 4/

Before Vidal entered the fray, much of the controversy over French Govt's approach to Islam swirled around interior minister Gérald Darmanin. Earlier this month, Darmanin debated with Marine Le Pen for 70 minutes on prime time French TV 5/

It has since become received wisdom in Fr & US media that Darmanin accused Le Pen of “being soft” on radical Islam because she rejects much of Govt's anti-separatism law. This is perfect case study in how difficult/polarised it has become to discuss Islam & Islamism in France 6/

Le Pen said she detested the draft law because it applies to all religions. She demanded a tougher law, incl an outright ban on the hijab on French streets, which would directly attack “Islamist ideology” but not attempt to place new boundaries between church & state 7/

Darmanin said this approach could not work; would be unconstitutional;  discriminatory against Islam; & would allow radical Islamists to continue to infiltrate mosques in France. He then teased her by saying her proposals were “soft” & “shaky” 8/

That one word “soft” is now all that much of Fr media, including Le Monde, recalls of the debate. But it was also notable for the robust defence by Darmanin of the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab in public spaces 9/

Was Darmanin trying to have it both ways – defend Islam as “a great faith” while posing as “tougher” than Le Pen? Maybe. Politics is politics after all 10/

There's no doubt Macron’s approach to radical Islam is designed to reassure & attract moderate to conservative right-wing opinion before elections in April/May next year. But the suggestion that Macron is “flirting with far right” is factually wrong & electorally nonsensical 11/

Far right voters detest Macron, viewing him as the ultimate manifestation of a pro-European ruling elite, allegedly soft on crime & radical Islam. They will never switch to him in any significant numbers 12/

His electoral prospects could however be enhanced by a modest swing back towards the left & centre (something that he was planning before the Coronoviris pandemic swept all bets off the table). Suspect that's the direction into which he'll lean 13/

It's also worth looking at Macron's policies in aggregate - especially his set piece speech on 2 Oct & the draft law on “reinforcing Republican values” which followed. These were heavily influenced (& welcomed) by consultations with moderate Muslim leaders, academics & imams 14/

(Worth recalling that it was 14 days after his speech when Samuel Paty was beheaded by a young radicalised Chechen Muslim in a Paris suburb. This followed a long line of Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks in Fr in the six years since Charlie Hebdo & HyperCacher murders) 15/

In his Oct intervention, Macron also became the first French Pr to acknowledge a decades-old, de facto policy of economic & social “separatism” by “white” or “mainstream” France towards its largely Muslim minorities of north African & African origin 16/

The Govt has thus advanced policies to improve the economic conditions & job opportunities in inner French suburbs (banlieues) where most French Muslims live. Macron has also promoted a new law & machinery against job or other discrimination on racial or ethnic grounds 17/

Of course the Govt could do more. But it's equally fair to say that these initiatives should at least have been noted in Fr & US media attacks on Macron’s alleged “flirting with the far right” 18/

All this needs to be seen in context of Fr commitment to a fiercely secular state in which all religions are allowed & defended but none promoted by state institutions. Much of Fr - right & left - see rise of radical Islam as a security threat & a challenge to this model 19/

Yet French secularism remains fundamentally misunderstood abroad.
In its essence, it amounts to a charter for tolerance & democracy which is an important protection for France’s Muslims & other racial & religious minorities 20/

At the same time, it’s also true that the French don’t understand how their orientation towards this issue is misunderstood beyond their borders. Senior Fr figures are way too fickle about any such criticism. All of this is creating an unhelpful & difficult dynamic 21/

Macron plans to intervene in the near future (perhaps another speech?) probably in an attempt to restate & reinforce the even-handed approach he took on 2 Oct. That would be a good thing, but it may simply raise the temperature given how polarised the debate has now become 22/

That would be a shame. Macron’s law to strengthen the secular tradition is centrist, sensible & well-balanced, despite missteps. But his Govt needs to be more careful & coherent in explaining & defending it in future.

Full piece here @POLITICOEurope

politico.eu/article/on-isl…