The Minister of the Interior estimated that immigration was “not an opportunity” for France. For the President of the Republic, these remarks are “in contradiction (…) with reality”.
“We have always been an open country.” Interviewed in a special program on the Francophonie broadcast Saturday on France Interthe head of state made a plea for immigration. And responded remotely to the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, who considered that it was not “not a chance” for France.
It is “resolutely in contradiction (…) with reality”said the President of the Republic. “We can decide that we would have done nuclear physics much better without the Polish Marie Curie (…), that we could have danced much better without Charles Aznavour, etc.”he argued.
Also readBruno Retailleau: “When the law no longer protects, it must be changed”
“There are millions of dual nationals in our country, French people with immigrant backgrounds at least as many, those with immigrant backgrounds at least as many. It’s our wealth, it’s a strength.”said the president. “The difficulty at the moment is how we manage to fight against human traffickers, these illegal immigration networks.” For the Head of State, who made particular reference to the right to asylum, it is necessary that “the welcoming country maintains its hospitality and that those who are welcomed (are) well received, that is to say that they (can) have material, educational conditions which enable them to build their lives”.
“Shame on us”
“Is immigration bad? The answer is no. It depends. Is immigration from the African continent bad in general? In reality, not completely”summarized Emmanuel Macron, whose remarks were recorded on October 1. “The African continent, shame on us, is affected today more by the private returns of immigrants to Europe than by public development aid from Europeans”he stressed. “All this is much more complex than we want to say”he again observed the president, noting the “ethical and political tension” permanent on the subject.
Bruno Retailleau, who has made the fight against illegal immigration his priority, announced his intention to reinstate an offense of illegal residence, to extend the time limit in the detention center for foreigners in an irregular situation up to seven months or even to strengthen border controls, “particularly on key points”.
Measures which seem to respond to Michel Barnier’s desire to “master” immigration, even if the Prime Minister remained more vague during his general policy speech on Tuesday. The new tenant of Place Beauvau also announced that he wanted to reduce the social rights of migrants in order to “to be less attractive”.
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