In front of the National Assembly’s commission of inquiry on Islamism on December 2, 2025 at the Palais Bourbon, Marine Tondelier defended public freedoms and contested a procedure she considers "Islamophobic," while reaffirming the fight against terrorism. The commission of inquiry on Islamism in France, chaired by Xavier Breton, assures its neutrality. Before the report expected in mid-December, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Gérald Darmanin are to be heard by the commission of inquiry on December 6.
What Marine Tondelier said in front of the deputies
Heard by the parliamentary commission of inquiry of the National Assembly on December 2, 2025, Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the Ecologists and regional councilor of Hauts-de-France, rejected the idea of Islamist entryism within her party. She criticized a body that, through its creation and the formulation of its questions, would create an Islamophobic atmosphere. Moreover, this engenders a climate of permanent suspicion affecting French people of Muslim faith or presumed to be so. She insisted on the strict distinction between religious practices and political proselytism. According to her, "praying, wearing a veil, or eating halal" does not threaten the Republic.
The ecologist leader criticized the modalities of the inquiry. However, she reaffirmed that the fight against Islamist terrorism remains a "crucial issue" for security. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of this issue for living together. She assured having "nothing to hide" and answered questions about specific episodes. For example, she mentioned the invitation of rapper Médine to the EELV Summer University. Additionally, she addressed the withdrawal of a local candidate for homophobic remarks. She also cited the Civitas association to illustrate, on the far-right Catholic side, ideological drifts contrary to public freedoms.
A contested but official commission of inquiry
The commission was created on June 24, 2025 under the title of the right of draw of an opposition group. It is chaired by Xavier Breton (Republican Right). Additionally, it has Matthieu Bloch (Union of the Right for the Republic) as its rapporteur. Its mandate: to examine any potential support from elected officials to organizations or networks likely to support terrorist action or propagate Islamist ideology, and to assess the risks of entryism during upcoming electoral deadlines. Its scope, reports, and schedule are published by the National Assembly.
Politically, the left considers this body as primarily targeting La France Insoumise (LFI). However, its president asserts that the commission "does not target any party". Criticisms also concern the composition of the bureau, deemed unbalanced by left-wing groups. Additionally, the order of parliamentary hearings is also criticized.
Secularism at the heart of the political debate, without amalgams
The hearing highlighted two lines of division. On one side, there is the demand for a secularism of state neutrality. Additionally, the individual freedoms guaranteed include those of Muslims. On the other, the desire to monitor and sanction organizations whose goal would be to impose norms contrary to laws and fundamental rights. Marine Tondelier positioned herself on a fine line: refusing any amalgam between Islam and Islamism, while acknowledging the need to combat networks and actors advocating hatred or separation.
For her, religious practices should not be pathologized in the public debate. She worries about a "slippage" where everything related to the Muslim religion would become suspect. Conversely, several right-wing deputies insisted on cases of militant influence and clientelism to be documented. However, EELV facing the commission on Islamism claims to have established internal safeguards.
The schedule: after Tondelier, Mélenchon then Darmanin
According to the National Assembly, the commission has scheduled the hearing of Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 2:00 PM, open to the press, followed by that of Gérald Darmanin, Keeper of the Seals and Minister of Justice, the same day (time to be confirmed). These meetings are to conclude the sequence of major political witnesses before the discussion of the report.
The summoning of Jean-Luc Mélenchon has sparked reactions within LFI. Indeed, some leaders suggested not responding to a procedure deemed "deviated." The rapporteur, Matthieu Bloch, assures that the body "accuses no one." Furthermore, it aims to document the facts without polemicizing.
What the commission seeks to establish
The core of the mandate covers four axes. Firstly, publicly displayed support by elected officials to individuals or structures linked to terrorist or Islamist networks. Secondly, common participation in events. Thirdly, electoral clientelism is examined. Finally, the risk of entryism targeting local authorities and lists in view of the 2026 municipal elections is also considered. The Assembly sets a six-month deadline to deliver the conclusions, in accordance with the ordinance of November 17, 1958.
In this context, the commission has already heard ministers (Interior, Higher Education, Justice). Additionally, it has listened to intelligence service officials, academics, and journalists. Finally, political leaders have also been heard. The hearing of Marine Tondelier is part of this series.
Reactions and lines of fracture
On the ecologist side, a line of firmness against groups advocating hatred and obscurantism is defended. However, this is done without renouncing individual freedoms. On the right, several leaders emphasize the need to name influence strategies and to prevent entryism. The presidential majority insists on balance: fighting separatist organizations without stigmatizing millions of citizens.
In session, Marine Tondelier appeared calm and prepared, dismissing some questions deemed tricky or off-topic. Deputies asked for clarifications on the doctrine of the Ecologists regarding secularism. Additionally, they inquired about the internal control procedures and the investigations conducted after local incidents.
The rules of the game: right of draw, powers, limits
The right of draw allows each opposition group to create a commission of inquiry. Indeed, this is possible once a year. These commissions have extensive powers: summoning people, collecting testimonies under oath, requesting documents. However, their action is bounded by the secrecy of the investigation. Additionally, the separation of powers imposes limits. Finally, the six-month deadline also restricts their action. In practice, they produce reports with recommendations to public authorities.
This particular commission experienced a bumpy start: resignation of an initially designated president, controversies over the composition of the bureau, recurring criticisms of its political neutrality. All these elements fuel the reservations of the left-wing opposition and explain the distrust expressed by Marine Tondelier.
What concrete effects to expect?
On December 10, 2025, a closed-door meeting is to examine the draft report of the rapporteur Matthieu Bloch. Its publication is hoped for before the end of 2025. The recommendations could concern the monitoring of entryism. Furthermore, they could include the relationships between elected officials and religious or ideological organizations. Additionally, the internal procedures of the parties are also targeted. Finally, cooperation with state services could be recommended. The scope will be political and symbolic rather than legal: the report does not judge, it documents and proposes.
Political stakes and public image
For The Ecologists, this hearing offers a moment of visibility. It allows Marine Tondelier to anchor a message: firmness towards any ideology of hatred, refusal of amalgams, defense of freedoms. As the 2026 municipal elections approach and with a view to 2027, the battle of narratives is crucial. Indeed, the right seeks to document the links between political leaders and Islamist movements in France that it considers worrisome. Meanwhile, the left aims to denounce a drift towards a society of suspicion.
One constant remains: secularism as a common good. It is on this ground that the reception of the report will be played out: will it be perceived as a useful control tool or as a political instrument? The answer will come from the established facts, the counterarguments, and the ability of public actors to hold together security and fundamental rights.
Method and editorial vigilance
This article rigorously distinguishes facts, attributed statements, and analyses. It respects the neutrality of Ecostylia, avoids amalgams, and reminds that the work of the commission is ongoing. No preliminary conclusion is drawn before the publication of the report.
In front of the National Assembly’s commission of inquiry on Islamism on December 2, 2025 at the Palais Bourbon, Marine Tondelier defended public freedoms and contested a procedure she considers "Islamophobic," while reaffirming the fight against terrorism. The body, chaired by Xavier Breton, assures its neutrality. Before the report expected in mid-December, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Gérald Darmanin are to be heard by the commission of inquiry on December 6.