In the premises of the prefecture of Tours, Thursday November 14, 2024, André Joachim, sub-prefect of Loches, solemnly handed over their naturalization decree to 119 people from many countries.
At the national level, each year, nearly 130,000 foreign nationals, satisfying certain conditions linked to their length of stay, their level of knowledge of the French language, their criminal record and their adherence to the values of the Republic, gain French nationality. .
Since February 2023, this procedure, which can seem like a real obstacle course, has become somewhat more flexible thanks to the possibility of making the request online, thus avoiding several return trips to the prefecture.
“Proud to welcome you among our fellow citizens”
Before asking the audience, moved and aware of the importance of the moment, to sing the national anthem, André Joachim recalled the meaning of this moment awaited by some for several years. “Becoming French, joining our national community, means benefiting from the rights of all our fellow citizens, appearing in the motto of the Republic: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. But also to respect duties, the first of which is respect for the law. Today, I am proud to welcome you among our fellow citizens. »
Accompanied by the mayors of the municipalities concerned, or their representatives, the sub-prefect handed over to each recipient by name an official file including their naturalization decree, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the charter of rights and duties of the citizen, an extract from the French national anthem as well as an extract from the 1958 constitution.
