Nearly half of Muslim respondents in France would consider leaving the country if Marine Le Pen wins the presidency in 2027, according to an IFOP survey published by French weekly Marianne. The findings come as illegal migration, Islam, secularism and national identity remain prominent issues in the run-up to the presidential election.
The survey found that 46 per cent of Muslim respondents would contemplate emigrating following a Le Pen victory. France is estimated to have approximately seven million Muslims, many with family origins in former French colonies, including Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon.
The findings have emerged amid ongoing left-Islamo riots in France, including demonstrations over education and public spending. The unrest has also fuelled debate over the role of left- Islamist movements, illegal migration and the preservation of traditional French culture.
Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally party, has advocated substantial reductions in immigration and tighter enforcement of the country’s secularism laws. Her proposals include restrictions on Islamic religious clothing, particularly the hijab, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the separation of religion and public life.
Survey reveals support for restrictions on religious symbols
The IFOP survey also examined public attitudes towards Islamic religious dress and the presence of religious symbols in public spaces. Some 53 per cent of respondents opposed allowing the Islamic veil on public streets, while 75 per cent supported the existing prohibition on abayas in state secondary schools.
A further 72 per cent backed banning conspicuous religious symbols during sporting competitions, according to the survey.
France already maintains restrictions on religious expression in certain public institutions. Le Pen has proposed extending such measures to the wearing of the hijab in public spaces. She has indicated that the proposal would be submitted to a referendum rather than automatically implemented upon taking office.
The debate over religious dress has become closely linked to wider disagreements over immigration, integration and the interpretation of French secularism.
The survey’s findings also come against the backdrop of the 2027 presidential contest, in which Le Pen has featured prominently in opinion polls. Recent surveys have placed her at approximately 35 per cent in the first round, ahead of other potential candidates.
An October poll by Harris Interactive projected Le Pen winning hypothetical second-round contests against former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe by 56 per cent to 44 per cent and against Jean-Luc Melenchon by 67 per cent to 33 per cent.
The prospect of a Le Pen presidency has also prompted comparisons with political reactions to Donald Trump’s victories in the United States in 2016 and 2024, when some opponents said they would leave the country if he won.
The IFOP findings place questions of immigration, religious identity and political allegiance among the issues shaping France’s approaching presidential election.
