French leftist, greens parties blast first lady’s support for compulsory school uniforms

PARIS

French leftist and greens politicians are criticizing the first lady coming out in favor of compulsory uniforms for elementary and high school students.

Speaking to French daily Le Parisien, Brigitte Macron on Wednesday voiced support for requiring school uniforms.

The interview was published online on Thursday, the same day France’s parliament rejected a proposal by the National Rally party to reintroduce uniforms.

“I wore uniforms when I was a student, navy blue skirts and sweaters for 15 years,” said the president’s wife.

But leftist and green party members criticized her remarks.

On Twitter, Thomas Portes, a France Unbowed parliamentarian, accused “the far-right and Macron supporters” of working “hand-in-hand.”

Cyrielle Chatelain, a member of the greens Europe Ecology party, accused Brigitte Macron of supporting the National Rally’s “retrograde proposition.”

The requirement to wear a uniform was removed from French public schools over a half-century ago, in the 1960s.

Brigitte Macron cited standard arguments for uniform proponents, arguing the standard dress helps eliminate the differences between students and also saves time and money.