Moussaoui called the burqa “an extremely marginal phenomenon” and said his group promotes a moderate practice of Islam. “When we meet women who wear it, we try to educate them, and explain to them that moderation is a better choice,” he said.

The Council, however, has spoken out against the need to conduct a study on burqa, saying that it risked stigmatising Islam and Muslims in France.

The issue was the most volatile of his 45 minute address, which pledged measures to alleviate the economic crisis, among them establishing a loan fund to finance the nation’s strategic priorities such as investments in education and training.

The “crisis is not finished”, he said. “We don’t know when it will end.” He pledged to guarantee “stability of our banking system”. He ruled out austerity measures for the nation to dig itself out of economic crisis, pledging to give laid off workers the benefit of a year’s salary.

“I will not increase taxes because an increase in taxes would delay the end of the crisis,” he said.

Through his speech, he also managed to touch on the cherished notion of early French retirements at 60, noting that by 2010 “all options will be examined”.