"We had to name a spade a spade," slips an adviser.
This Friday morning, Emmanuel Macron goes to Les Mureaux (Yvelines): a speech followed by a press conference to unveil the outlines of the draft law on "separatism", which will be presented in early December in the Council of Ministers.
At first, when he mentioned this project, the executive put on the same level the fight against Islamist excesses and the fight against "sects", "white supremacists", "tax evaders", "Catholic schools" extremes ”.
History not to be accused of stigmatizing a religion.
But the tone at the top of the state has suddenly changed in recent days, against the backdrop of a chopper attack in front of the former “Charlie Hebdo” offices and an upsurge in hate calls.
"The main opponent is Islamism"
In its communication, the Elysee has become cash: "The main adversary is Islamism," explains the presidency.
“This is to prevent certain parts of the national territory from using religion to build a parallel society,” explains a palace advisor.
Another adds: “In many of these areas, when you are looking for a place in a nursery, you do not go to the town hall, you go to see the religious association.
"
Same story with the Ministry of the Interior where one points out the “prayer rooms in the transport companies”, the “controllers who wish only to exercise their profession in male team” or these employees who “clean the seats of the bus cabins, where a woman is seated ”.
The security climate is not the only reason for the change in rhetoric.
Behind the scenes, Prime Minister Jean Castex, Gérald Darmanin and Marlène Schiappa (Interior) and Jean-Michel Blanquer (Education) campaigned for this approach.
Emmanuel Macron agreed with them, despite the risk of censorship from the Constitutional Council.
While the supporters of a less targeted approach - Roxana Maracineanu (Sport), Nadia Hai (City) - had been invited to the Elysee Palace two weeks ago, they were not invited back on Tuesday for the last arbitrations with the other ministers concerned.
VIDEO. Jean Castex announces a bill on the fight against separatism
It is an understatement to say that the president has evolved on the subject: in 2015, he affirmed that France had "a share of responsibility" in the "breeding ground" of jihadism.
He pointed to the "closures" in our economy which fueled the feeling of "distrust" of part of the population.
Arrived at the top, his doctrine evolved.
The proof: in July, the Head of State secured the care of a specialist in radicalization, the prefect Frédéric Rose.
Former Secretary General of the Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Crime and Radicalization, he has become the “interior” adviser to the Head of State.
Measures unveiled in the coming days
After Emmanuel Macron's intervention at Les Mureaux, several ministers will discuss the concrete measures related to the bill in the coming days: charter of values and transparency in the governance of associations, control of foreign funding for places of worship, increased vigilance on home schooling, "incitement" or "obligation" for obviously religious associations to pass under the statute of the law of 1905 ...
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It will then remain to ensure the political landing of a law that can tense the majority.
Not easy.
A member of the government is already worried: “This law should not push the moderates into the arms of the extremists.
"
