Poll Shows Half of Muslims Would Exit France Under Le Pen: “One More Reason to Vote for Us”
A study by the Institut Français d’Opinion Publique (IFOP) for Marianne magazine has sparked widespread debate across France after revealing that 46% of Muslim residents would consider leaving the country if Marine Le Pen wins the upcoming presidential election. This figure stands in stark contrast to the national average, where only 21% of citizens say they would contemplate emigrating under a National Rally (RN) presidency.
The survey underscores deep apprehension within the Muslim community: 81% of respondents believe a Le Pen victory would trigger an increase in anti-Muslim aggression and discrimination, while 27% state they would hide their religious affiliation out of safety concerns. Conducted in late September 2026 with a sample of over 9,600 respondents, the study analyzed national cohesion, French identity, and public sentiment regarding potential secularism enforcement.
Reactions from the Right and Electoral Context
Sectors aligned with National Rally have interpreted the findings as evidence of a growing cultural divide. Supporters and commentators close to the party framed the potential departure as “another argument to vote for National Rally,” asserting that it highlights an underlying conflict between Le Pen’s political platform and the perspectives of a significant segment of the Muslim population.
Meanwhile, Le Pen has recently softened her campaign position, clarifying that any proposed ban on the hijab in public spaces would not take effect immediately, but would instead be put to a national referendum. The poll comes just six months before the presidential election amidst escalating debates over secularism, immigration, and national identity.
