French Prime Minister's comment on national symbol's bare breasts sparks controversy

The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has drawn criticism for suggesting that naked breasts are more representative of France than a headscarf.

Valls gave a speech on Monday during which he hailed the bare breasts of Marianne, a national symbol of the French Republic which stands for an allegory of liberty and reason.

“Marianne has a naked breast because she is feeding the people! She is not veiled, because she is free! That is the republic!” he thundered at a government rally.

His comment comes amid the latest flare-up of the political row over the burkini, after the France's highest court overturned the ban on the garment.

In the past, Valls has defended and rallied behind French mayors who support the banning of the swimwear that covers a woman’s entire body with the exception of her hands, feet and face.

The inference that bare breasts were a symbol of France while the Muslim headscarf was problematic sparked scorn from politicians and derision from historians and feminists.

Marianne a le sein nu parce que c'est une allégorie crétin!#Valls

— mathilde larrere (@LarrereMathilde) August 29, 2016

Mathilde Larrere, a historian of the French revolution and French citizenship, tweeted: “Marianne has a naked breast because it’s an allegory, you cretin!” She then explained in a long series of tweets that images of Marianne with a naked breast harked back to classical allusions.

Other historians questioned Valls’ grasp of French republican history. The figure of Marianne officially became a symbol of the French Republic in 1848, after the fall of the monarchy. Her image is still featured throughout the French public service and on official documents, as well as on stamps.

The historian Nicolas Lebourg said that Valls appeared to have confused Marianne with the earlier 1830 Delacroix painting of Liberty Leading the People

The historian Nicolas Lebourg told French newspaper Libération that Valls appeared to have confused Marianne with the earlier 1830 Delacroix painting of Liberty Leading the People, where the figure has her breasts uncovered.

Many pointed out that Marianne typically has her head covered with a Phrygian cap, a soft, felt hat that symbolised freedom and the revolution. She has reportedly been portrayed in different ways, either with breasts uncovered or fully covered.

The former Green party minister Cécile Duflot said Valls’ praise of Marianne’s bare breasts gave an indication of the lamentable view of women held by some male French politicians.

The UN has called on French beach resorts to lift their bans on the burkini, labelling them a “stupid reaction” that did not improve security but fuelled religious intolerance and the stigmatisation of Muslims, especially women.

The UN human rights office welcomed a decision last week by France’s highest administrative court to suspend one of the burkini bans, ruling it “manifestly illegal”. This decision is likely to set a legal precedent. But most of the mayors who have banned burkinis are still refusing to withdraw the restrictions and four face further legal action from rights groups this week.