“I don’t want any religious sign” in schools, colleges and high schools, said Aurélien Pradié, deputy for Lot, at the microphone of Sonia Mabrouk on Wednesday morning on Europe 1. The presidential candidate of the Les Républicains party clarified his comments on one of his proposals, the return to wearing a uniform in schools. “I proposed a unique outfit because I think it is both a way of erasing religious marks but also the social gaps between children from privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds,” he continued.
A “belonging garment” at the university?
Aurélien Pradié distinguishes himself from his opponents by clear-cut positions, like his opposition to pension reform and by wanting to impose the wearing of uniforms, including at university. A position he refuted this Wednesday at the microphone of Europe 1. “Tomorrow the law must leave universities free, if they want, to set outfits, I am not saying uniform, but to have a clothing of belonging,” he said.
“We need to arm our university, to allow our university presidents first of all to have a clear rule: no religious signs at the university, it’s still something that will be new. And moreover , today we also perhaps need to regain a sense of belonging.” For the day of the exams, the deputy of the Lot proposes for example the wearing of a polo shirt common to all the students. “We do it for the big schools,” he insisted.
Did the LR presidential candidate go too far in saying he wanted the uniform at the university? Wednesday morning, on Europe 1, Aurélien Pradié persists and signs, he “never spoke of uniforms at the university”.
The deputy for Lot also spoke out on the ban on the wearing of religious clothing in public spaces. “The real subject today is the veil, you have to say things as they are,” he said. “I hope that in all spaces that fall under public service, we will not have the wearing of religious symbols, all religious symbols,” he said.
“It seems to me that on the question of the presence of the veil, of the Islamization of our public spaces, we have moved back a lot. that’s their problem. Personally, I don’t consider it necessary to let it happen. I’ve always spoken of unique outfits, not uniforms. For a very simple reason, it’s that unique outfits can also consist of not having religious symbols. I assume it because I am secular and republican”, he concluded on the subject.