'Political Islam' seeks secession from France: Macron

PARIS- Anadolu Agency

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed on April 25 to resist “political Islam,” which he said is a threat and seeks succession from the republic.

Macron made the remarks during a press conference at the Elysee Palace to unveil his policy response to the Yellow Vest protests following a three-month-long national debate.

"Political Islam wants to secede from our republic," he said, asking the government to be “intractable” against it.

“We are talking about people who, in the name of a religion, pursue a political project,” he said.

He said the control of funds from abroad to some organizations should also be strengthened.

Macron also noted that France's 1905 law on secularism has been effective and should continue to be implemented.

“We must not hide when we talk about secularism. We do not really talk about secularism. We talk about the communitarianism that has settled in certain neighborhoods of the republic,” he said, referring to Muslim communities in France.

Since last November, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests- dubbed the Yellow Vests- have gathered in major French cities to protest Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation.

Under pressure, Macron announced a rise in the minimum wage and scuttled the tax hikes.

In the first major domestic news conference of his entire presidency, Macron steered clear of bombshell announcements, but he promised to accelerate his reform programme- but deliver it in a less abrasive manner.

"I want (tax) cuts for people who work by significantly reducing income taxes," said Macron.

He said the cuts would be worth five billion euros and financed by eliminating corporate tax breaks, longer work hours and reductions in public spending.

The measures come on top of package of tax cuts and income top-ups worth 10 billion euros which was announced in December after the first month of protests by the "yellow vests.”

Macron, 41, swept to power in 2017 on hopes he would be a youthful breath of fresh air for France.