In an opinion poll of 1,011 people representative of the French population, 44% reported that they favored a prohibition of the Islamic veil in streets and public buildings. 17% were “very favorable” and 27% “rather favorable”. 21% were “very opposed,” and the rest (35%) were “rather opposed.” The question, however, has two parts: whether the veil should be prohibited in public buildings (post offices, universities, etc.), and whether the veil should be prohibited in the street. If these two questions were separated, the response to the poll might have been different. Breakdown of the poll results by party: On the right: Movement for France (MPF): 59% in favor of the prohibition Union for a Popular Movement (UMP): 53% in favor Front National (FN): 40% in favor This relatively low level of support among the conserviatve FN can be interpreted in a number of ways. It could be a way of saying that the veil is not the problem – foreigners should return home, not integrate into French society. On the left: Communist Party: 48% in favor of the prohibition Greens: 39% in favor Socialists: 36% in favor Notably, not one of the individuals polled refused to answer the question.
