Sarkozy To Urge French Immigration Shake-Up

by-Martin Arnold In Paris
Published: November 16 2005

Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister, will on Thursday call for a shake-up of Immigration Policy and propose tightening rules for granting Visas to family members of Immigrants living in France.

His comments, in an Interview published in L' Express Magazine, came after an opinion poll showed that Mr. Sarkozy, the early favourite for the 2007 Presidentila Elections, had won plaudits among voters for his tough stance over the recent rioting.

Analysts said his tough position on Immigration highlighted how Mr. Sarkozy was Identifying himself with policies normally associated with far-right anti-Immigration Parties, like the National Front, to enhance his populist image.

The debate over Immigration heated up on Wednesday after Gerard Larcher, Employment Minister, told the Financial Times that polygamy among Immigrants was one of the social causes that helped lead to rioting during the past three weeks.

Jean-Marc Ayrault, head of the Opposition Socialists Group in Parliament, said the government was taking "totally the wrong road" by blaming polygamy for causing the riots.

Early in the riotting, Mr. Sarkozy was widely criticised for Inciting more violence by calling the protestors "Scum."

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e82da4fc-56d4-11da-b98c-00000e25118c.html