The ruling UMP party's general secretary, Philippe Douste-Blazy, said on Thursday that a law that banned every visible sign of religions conviction -- cross, skull-cap or headscarf -- would "help all those millions of Muslims in France who are genuine republicans, who believe in an Islam in France, rather than an Islamic France."
Otherwise, he said, "10 or 20 years down the line we could have some very serious problems indeed."
French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin have both spoken out vociferously against the wearing of "ostentatious" symbols of faith in schools, the civil service, and in state institutions.
Raffarin, as well as several other Cabinet ministers, however, are hesitant about a new law, arguing that it is always better to "convince than to constrain," and that legislation "should always be the last possible solution."
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