Despite warnings about the bill being against the constitution, French ministers are set to present it for consideration in May.
President Nicolas Sarkozy threw his weight behind the bill on Wednesday saying the burqa "hurts the dignity of women and is not acceptable in French society," government spokesman Luc Chatel told Reuters.
Chatel quoted Sarkozy as saying that everything should be done so that "no one feels stigmatized because of their faith and religious practices."
The announcement comes despite warnings that the ban could face a legal challenge.
"It appears to the State Council that a general and absolute ban on the full-veil as such can have no incontestable judicial basis," the State Council said, suggesting that a complete ban could expose the bill to judicial review.
France is home to the largest Muslim population among the 27 European Union member states. Nearly 10 percent of the 62 million French population is Muslim.
According to French government, if approved the legislation would affect around 2,000 Muslim Frenchwomen.
/106
