Sarkozy’s not perfect, but he knows the threat that creeping Islamism poses to his country’s future.

(Reuters) — President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to hold a national debate on the role of Islam in French society has opened a rare rift in his centre-right party, damaging his credibility ahead of a presidential election next year. Fears about the role of Islam in France’s secular society have become a key campaign theme in the wake of controversies — largely fed by the far-right — over Muslims praying in the street, halal-only fast-food restaurants and full-face veils.

With Sarkozy intent on keeping moderate voters from defecting to the far-right, he has encouraged the ruling UMP party to hold a public debate starting on April 5 to discuss the compatibility between Islam and France’s secular values.

But weeks before the debate has begun, and with little clue as to its format, dissent within the UMP over the wisdom of the idea has hurt Sarkozy’s credibility, hinting that his leadership of the party is less than ironclad. “If this debate were to be focused only on Islam, if it were to lead to a stigmatisation of Muslims, then I would oppose it,” Prime Minister Francois Fillon said this week on RTL radio.

Division in the ruling UMP group, usually more disciplined than the Socialist opposition, reflects poorly on Sarkozy as he tries to shore up his popularity from record lows in the face of competition from a resurgent far-right National Front party.