An exploration of French identity has become a significant theme in decentralized citizen conventions initiated by the government in 2025, as revealed by François Bayrou. He emphasized the importance of engaging citizens in discussing what it means to be French, incorporating values like secularism and the social contract. This initiative mirrors a previous national identity debate from 2009, highlighting the evolving nature of national identity while cautioning against its politicization.
Exploring the Essence of French Identity
The inquiry into “What does it mean to be French?” transcends mere academic discourse; it is the foundational theme of the “decentralized citizen conventions” initiated by the government in early 2025. François Bayrou, in an interview with Le Figaro, revealed plans for these conventions across France to engage citizens in meaningful dialogue on this pressing question.
“This question resonates deeply in our current era. It is relevant for both those born French and those who choose to join our nation,” asserted the Prime Minister during the interview. He emphasized that, alongside the established republican ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, the conversation should also incorporate secularism and the social contract, as highlighted in his discussion with Le Figaro.
Historical Context and the Call for Debate
This initiative from François Bayrou echoes the “great debate on national identity” that took place on November 2, 2009, under the direction of Éric Besson, then Minister of Immigration, Integration, and National Identity. During the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, this debate was decentralized, occurring in 100 departmental prefectures and 350 sub-prefectures throughout France.
The earlier discussions were bifurcated into two segments, focusing first on “national identity” and then on “the contribution of immigration to national identity.” Éric Besson’s office articulated that the central query, “For you, what does it mean to be French today?” should be posed to all citizens. The aim was to explore the definition of the nation, encompassing its history, culture, language, heritage, and the collective commitment to coexistence, grounded in the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity while considering additional values of secularism and gender equality.
Interestingly, François Bayrou, who once opposed the national identity debate, argued back in 2009 that such discussions should not be politicized. He maintained that national identity is a continuous evolution, rooted in foundational values that include and embrace all who identify with it over time. Bayrou expressed concern that politicizing national identity could tarnish France’s image and lamented the tendency of political parties to exploit this topic in the lead-up to elections.