France’s socialist Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, announced on September 24 that “the Roma should return to Romania or Bulgaria” because “these populations have a way of life that is extremely different to ours, and they are obviously in confrontation” with local populations.
“The theme of immigration will be instrumentalised in the run-up to municipal elections in March,” notes Libération –
Since the beginning of the summer, right-wing representatives have increasingly resorted to aggressive declarations in the local press to condemn the upsurge in the numbers of asylum seekers in their regions.
Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday
At the same time, the daily points out that the minister’s remarks “have reignited an entrenched conflict among socialists between self-proclaimed “realists” — who favour a hardline — and proponents of the grand principles of reception and integration.”
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!