Leading French conservative presidential candidate Nicholas Sarkozy has been battling accusations that his latest campaign proposal — to create a Ministry of Immigration and National Identity — is racist and xenophobic.
The suggestion, made during an appearance on a political talk show, adds to Sarkozy's hardline reputation. He had described the people who participated in riots a year and half ago in poor suburbs of French cities as "scum" and "rabble." (Many involved in the unrest were of French-Arab ancestry.)
Sarkozy seemed to have some recent success cultivating a kinder, gentler side. That effort may be undermined by his latest idea. On the TV show, he said he would like to concentrate the immigration portfolio under one ministry instead of three, thus cutting down on bureaucracy.
But his proposition drew the immediate ire and fire of human rights associations as well as every one of his political contenders.
"We consider that this kind of idea is a way to try to catch the extremist vote," said Nesmah Karbache of the organization SOS Racism. "With this kind of ministry, Nicholas Sarkozy divides people. He tries to make a difference between migrants and French people born in France ..."
Socialist Party head Francois Hollande accused Sarkozy of flirting with the far right and newspaper editorialists opined that putting immigration and national identity together smacked of returning to the fascist policies of Vichy France.
Sarkozy claims France has suffered for the last 20 years from a failed immigration strategy.
As interior minister, he has toughened immigration laws to try to attract more skilled workers to France, while making it more difficult for those who arrived from other nations to bring their families into the country.
Sarkozy — the son of an immigrant from Hungary — says he is anything but anti-foreigner. Still, he is having a hard time living down his tough guy image forged during youth riots a year and a half ago.
But many analysts see Sarkozy's proposal as a calculated move. They say he wants to attract the nationalist voters of far-right politician Jean Marie Le Pen, whose campaign slogan is "France: Love It or Leave It."
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