France has launched a nationwide debate on national identity, that will see members of the public discussing issues such as whether Muslim women should be allowed to wear the burqa. Public meetings, which began on Monday in around 450 government offices around the country, are expected to be held regularly until the end of January. The centre-right government of Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, has been pushing for the country to reclaim national symbols and values, which many fear are being compromised by immigration and globalisation. But the socialist opposition has accused the government of pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment to garner support from the right, and says it risks alienating France's large immigrant communities. Critics also fear the debate will provide a forum for inflammatory rhetoric against foreigners.
France has launched a nationwide debate on national identity, that will see members of the public discussing issues such as whether Muslim women should be allowed to wear the burqa.
Public meetings, which began on Monday in around 450 government offices around the country, are expected to be held regularly until the end of January.
The centre-right government of Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, has been pushing for the country to reclaim national symbols and values, which many fear are being compromised by immigration and globalisation.
But the socialist opposition has accused the government of pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment to garner support from the right, and says it risks alienating France's large immigrant communities.
Critics also fear the debate will provide a forum for inflammatory rhetoric against foreigners.
