FRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday reiterated his “unbending will” to clamp down on foreign-born criminals, but internal divisions over the government’s tough immigration rhetoric were further exposed.
As Mr Sarkozy told a police gathering that he was determined to strip French nationality from foreign-born citizens for a range of crimes, several of his ministers were expressing misgivings over the high-profile dismantling of Roma camps in recent weeks.
Fadela Amara, the housing minister charged with improving conditions in France’s run-down suburbs, said she did not support Roma expulsions and was against broadening the list of crimes that lead to a loss of citizenship.
“There are laws and serious punishments that we must apply,” she said, noting that she had supported a law that allows for loss of French nationality for a foreign-born citizen convicted of terrorism or treason.
"I'm against expanding it to other crimes," said Ms Amara, a former anti-racism activist of Algerian origin who was brought into government as part of Mr Sarkozy's policy of ouverture, or opening up, to left-wing figures.
Ms Amara’s remarks followed those of another minister with roots on the left, foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, who said earlier this week he considered resigning in protest at the manner of the Roma deportations.
Hervé Morin, the defence minister who leads the centrist Nouveau Centre party, has also expressed misgivings.
The government’s bellicose rhetoric on immigration and crime, which started in July with a tough speech by Mr Sarkozy in the Alpine city of Grenoble, has revealed two currents in the ruling centre-right bloc on security issues.
Prime minister François Fillon has admitted there is some “unease” in government, and three right-wing former prime ministers – Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Alain Juppé and Dominique de Villepin – have publicly questioned the Élysée’s strategy.
A cabinet reshuffle due in October appears to have liberated some ministers and emboldened others. Mr Kouchner is widely expected to be removed from the foreign ministry next month, while Mr Morin has hinted he may step down to prepare his campaign for the 2012 presidential election.
One of those believed to be in line for promotion, Jean-François Copé, said yesterday he was “surprised” by Mr Fillon’s remarks about differences within cabinet. “In the prime minister’s case, yes, I was surprised by the words he chose,” said Mr Copé, who leads the deputies from Mr Sarkozy’s UMP party in the National Assembly. “But everyone enjoys freedom of expression.
“Personally, I think the struggle against delinquency is an absolute priority,” he said.
In an attempt to counter the impression of an internal rift, two Sarkozy loyalists firmly in the cabinet's camp sécuritaire– interior minister Brice Hortefeux and immigration minister Eric Besson – called a press conference to signal they had no intention of backing down on their policy towards Roma immigrants, despite concern from the UN and anti-racism groups.
“The evacuation and demolition operations of illegal and illicit camps will continue because they are legitimate and necessary,” said Mr Hortefeux, adding that 128 squats had been broken up and almost 1,000 people had been sent back to their country of origin – most of them “voluntarily” – since the end of July.