Publication of opinion polls results is prohibited in the week preceding any election. Despite open suspicion toward Muslims and prohibitions against wearing religious garb or symbols in state schools, religious freedom is protected. Labor rights are respected in practice, and strikes are widely and effectively used to protest government economic policy. In October, one-fifth of the country s high school students launched street protests against the government s education policies. Incendiary racist remarks by National Front leader Le Pen led to the introduction of legislation to punish the publication of xenophobic and racist ideas with mandatory jail sentences.
Women enjoy equal rights.
In October, conservative members of parliament blocked a government proposal to recognize same-sex partners as legal couples.