French elections: Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen backs down on hijab ban
Banning the Islamic headscarf in the street isÌý"no longer a priority" for the French far-right leader and , her campaign team told on Sunday.
Banning the hijab "comes after fighting Islamism, closing Salafi mosques, and cutting their funds," Le Pen's campaign spokespersonÌýSebastien ChenuÌýtold French TV channel BFM TV on Sunday.
"Once we will have closed Salafi mosques, cut their funding, outlawed Salafism, believe me, we will have taken off 90% of Islamic headscarves," he added.
Le Pen still plans to ban the hijab in "all public buildings andÌýadministrations," Jordan Bardella, the vice-president of Le Pen's National Front partyÌýtold radio stationÌýEurope 1 the same day.
However, the ban would not extend to the streetsÌýas the presidential candidate initially announced,ÌýBardella said - though he saidÌýbanning the wearing of the hijab in public spaces would remainÌýaÌý"long-term goal".
The second round of the French presidential election on 24 April will pitÌýincumbent president Emmanuel Macron againstÌýLe Pen.
The far-right candidateÌýhas promised to drastically reduce immigration from outside Europe and denounced what she perceives asÌýthe growing influence of "radical" Islam in French society.
Le Pen announced days before the first round of the French presidential election, held on 10 April, that she planned to if elected. Her recent turnaround could signal an attempt to woo more moderate right-wing votersÌýto support her.
Macron said last week that he to ban the wearing of theÌýhijabÌýin public places.
The latest polls prefigure a tense and tight duel between the two presidential candidates.
For now, Macron is expected to win by a much smallerÌýmargin than in 2017,Ìýwhen he trouncedÌýLe Pen by winningÌýtwo-thirds of votes.
France banned Muslim women and girls from wearing the headscarf at schools inÌý2004.
It banned the wearing of the niqab orÌýburqaÌýin public inÌý2011.Ìý