Mélenchon reverses stance on Islamic veil, citing personal change

Jean-Luc Mélenchon has publicly reversed his long-held stance on the Islamic veil, now defending a woman's right to wear it, a shift he attributes to personal conviction but which critics call electoral strategy. The France Insoumise leader made the remarks at a party gathering in Paris on Wednesday, September 2. Mélenchon admitted he opposed the veil twenty years ago, saying he "hadn't understood," but changed his mind after meeting veiled and non-veiled women. He previously called the veil a "sign of patriarchal submission" in 2010 and a "rag on the head" in 2017, drawing criticism from secular leftists and political opponents like RN deputy Kévin Mauvieux, who accused him of "electoral clientelism." Political scientist Benjamin Morel suggests the shift combines genuine belief with electoral sociology, noting Mélenchon targets an abstentionist Muslim electorate with no rival candidate addressing their concerns. Morel adds this fits his pattern of radicalizing before elections, then moderating to broaden support.