The information spread rapidly this afternoon from one newspaper to the next and across radio stations, as the political statement of the day was credited to Nicolas Sarkozy who reopened the debate on foreigners’ voting rights in France.
“Personally, I believe it wouldn’t be abnormal for a foreigner who is legally residing, working, paying taxes, and has lived in France for at least ten years, to be able to vote in municipal elections,” was reported by Le Monde from the Minister who called for opening, or rather reopening, a debate on the voting rights of foreigners on national territory.
This project, which was already in the bag of a President since 1981, was also a battleground for the Greens who had made a legislative proposal in 2000. It is finally through the leader of the UMP that this argument reappears, one that has charmed many elected officials without ever coming to fruition.
This statement has provoked numerous reactions in various French political classes, some accusing a mixing of genres and others praising a clever recovery, as President Jacques Chirac had already positioned himself against this possible law in 2002.
Nice Première has conducted an interview with many elected and local political figures and we will publish their responses upon receipt.
We start with Deputy Jérôme Rivière who is radically against this legislative project and gives us the main reasons why he believes, “No, and definitely, it’s a very bad proposal.”
Interview
Jérôme Rivière – Deputy
Nice
Mr. Deputy, Nicolas Sarkozy has stated he is considering allowing foreigners who have been in France for at least ten years to vote in the upcoming municipal elections. What do you think?
I am totally opposed!
The right to vote is intimately linked to nationality in our history as in our law. We recently made an exception for European Union citizens in municipal elections and European Parliament elections because we had a common political project with some countries since the creation of the EEC in 1957, and because this voting right falls within the framework of reciprocity agreements.
Our law allows a foreigner who wishes to and meets the conditions set by law to eventually become French. It is under this condition, and this condition only, that this person can participate in national democratic life.
Imagine the number of people to whom we would suddenly offer a right that most of them do not request or even wish for?
Nor is there a question of reciprocity in this proposal, at least in principle. Indeed, I know many French people living abroad, and I can assure you that their concern is not to participate in the local elections of the countries in which they live.
Finally, I do not feel that the French – at least in Nice – are questioning this today. I believe instead that they are rightly wondering about how to fight illegal immigration.
In my opinion, this should be the government’s priority, and I will query the ministers concerned by a written question today.
This right to vote, promised by the Left as well as the Greens, comes from the Right. What are the reasons for this, in your opinion?
I saw that it was an interview with Nicolas Sarkozy in “Le Monde”. The reasons? I do not know them, and I do not understand them.
What was the feeling from other elected officials you know?
The elected officials with whom I spoke about this declaration shared my view. They were totally hostile to this proposal.
Could this legislative project affect the upcoming municipal elections in Nice?
Above all, I remind you that this is only a personal reflection by the Minister of Interior and not a legislative project.
Quite frankly, I am certain that a large majority of deputies would reject a bill of this nature if it were proposed to us.
But you point out a major risk: the rise of communitarianism. I remember a communitarian list in the last regional elections, the phenomenon could only intensify with such a text.
However, I will look with curiosity and attention – as the voters, I imagine – at the reactions of elected officials.
Lastly, what do you think about the fact that this proposal does not cover legislative elections?
There would be a risk of marking a difference between elections, a difference unjustified.
For the record, I remind you that there would also be the problem of the eligibility of these immigrants in municipal elections. If they can vote, they should probably also be able to be elected. And I remind you that mayors, deputy mayors, and municipal councilors are major electors who vote for senators, the second chamber of the Republic’s Parliament.
No definitely no, it’s a very bad proposal.
