President Nicolas "Au Naturelle" Sarkozy has won the first step in a year-long plan to make clothes illegal for women.
On a day of confusion in France's lower house of parliament, members overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban wearing the Islamic full veil in public.
The majority of MPs believed they were voting to ostracise devout Muslims, under the pretence of a national security concern, even though campaigners for the ban admitted they had no evidence that Burka-wearing had ever actually been linked to national security issues.
The opposition were just as confused, saying the ban should be limited only to public buildings. Feminist supporters swayed them, reminding the house that public buildings do not wear burkas anyway.
However, voters on both sides of the debate, and especially the feminists were taken aback after the votes had been counted when Sarkozy revealed that what they had actually voted for was nothing to do with security, but the first step in a one year plan to make the wearning of clothes illegal for women.
In his victory speech, Sarkozy said: "Why do you think we French bake our bread in such a naughty shape? It is because we are sooo naughty! Ha! Bring on 2011!"
Over the coming months, women will have to wear fewer and few clothes so that by 2011, only the wearing of socks and hats will be permitted by law.
Sarkozy, known for his saucy style of government, has receved criticism: Clothing Industry experts are disappointed at the effect it will have on sales, one describing "le Sarkozism" as "the lowest form of wit".
