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Hollande Cancels Plan to Strip Citizenship in Terrorism Cases François Hollande Cancels Plan to Strip French Citizenship in Terrorism Cases
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — President François Hollande announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing a proposal to strip French citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism, ending a monthslong debate that convulsed his governing Socialist Party, dominated political discussion after the November terrorist attacks, and led to the resignation of the justice minister. PARIS — President François Hollande of France announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing a proposal to strip French citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism, ending a monthslong debate that convulsed his governing Socialist Party, dominated political discussion after the November terrorist attacks, and led to the resignation of the justice minister.
The idea, originally endorsed by right-wing parties and then adopted by Mr. Hollande three days after the deadly attacks on Nov. 13, provoked furious opposition on the left in France, even though all sides agreed it was largely symbolic and would have little practical effect in combating terrorism. The idea, originally endorsed by right-wing parties and adopted by Mr. Hollande three days after the deadly attacks on Nov. 13, drew furious opposition on the left in France, even though all sides agreed it was largely symbolic and would have little practical effect in combating terrorism.
But the proposal highlighted a growing split among the Socialists between those who favored a tough law-and-order approach in the wake of the attacks that killed 130 people, and those worried that the government would be impinging on civil liberties. But the proposal highlighted a growing split among the Socialist Party, between those who favored a tough law-and-order approach in the wake of the attacks that killed 130 people, and those worried that the government would be impinging on civil liberties.
Critics on Mr. Hollande’s left complained that the original idea would create two classes of citizens, saying it recalled the dark days of the World War II collaborationist government in France, which rendered hundreds of Jews stateless. Critics on the eft complained that the plan would create two classes of citizens, saying it recalled the dark days of the World War II collaborationist government in France, which rendered hundreds of Jews stateless.
France is still under a state of emergency imposed after the attacks, and the police have conducted thousands of raids and put hundreds of suspects under house arrest.France is still under a state of emergency imposed after the attacks, and the police have conducted thousands of raids and put hundreds of suspects under house arrest.
In the past week, after the Brussels bombings on March 22, officials announced the unmasking of a possible attack in “advance stages” of planning, according to the French interior minister, and the arrest of a suspect with links to one of the November attackers. Last week, after the Brussels bombings on March 22, officials identified a possible terrorist attack in the “advanced stages” of planning, according to the French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, and the arrest of a suspect with links to one of the November attackers.
On Wednesday, however, Mr. Hollande said he was pulling back from the citizenship-stripping proposal that had become the most intensely debated measure in a constitutional reform bill. The reversal was likely to reinforce among many voters what pollsters say is Mr. Hollande’s reputation for indecision. On Wednesday, however, Mr. Hollande said he was pulling back from the citizenship proposal that had become the most intensely debated measure in a bill to overhaul the Constitutional The reversal is likely to reinforce among many voters what pollsters say is Mr. Hollande’s reputation for indecision.
Mr. Hollande blamed the right-wing opposition, which controls the Senate, for his decision. Mr. Hollande blamed members of the right-wing opposition, which controls the Senate, for his decision.
“I take note that part of the opposition is against all constitutional revision,” he said. “I deplore, profoundly, this attitude, because we must do all we can under the current serious conditions to avoid division.” “I take note that part of the opposition is against all constitutional revision,” he said. “I deplore, profoundly, this attitude, because we must do all we can, under the current serious conditions, to avoid divisions.”
Mr. Hollande also abandoned a proposal to create a constitutional provision for declaring a state of emergency, even though it had garnered broad support across the political spectrum.Mr. Hollande also abandoned a proposal to create a constitutional provision for declaring a state of emergency, even though it had garnered broad support across the political spectrum.
Mr. Hollande’s government had slightly backtracked on the citizenship proposal in January, largely to mollify his left-wing critics, in deciding that the bill would not contain any language explicitly referring to dual citizens. Mr. Hollande’s government had slightly backtracked on the citizenship proposal in January, largely to mollify his critics on the left, in deciding that the bill would not contain any language explicitly referring to dual citizens.
The lower house, the National Assembly, where Socialists are in the majority, then approved an amended bill that extended the measure to all French citizens, regardless of how many passports they held. The lower house, the National Assembly, where Socialists are in the majority, approved an amended bill that extended the measure to all French citizens, regardless of how many passports they held.
But the Senate insisted on sticking to the original idea and restricting the proposal to dual nationals, with its leaders saying that the creation of stateless individuals was a “red line” they would not cross. With a presidential election looming next year, analysts interpreted the move as a way of dealing yet another blow to an already weakened Mr. Hollande. But the Senate insisted on sticking to the original idea and restricting the proposal to people with dual citizenship, with its leaders saying that the creation of stateless individuals was a “red line” they would not cross. With a presidential election scheduled next year, analysts interpreted the move as a way of dealing yet another blow to an already weakened Mr. Hollande.
Under French law, the National Assembly has the last word when disagreements arise with the Senate over regular legislation. But modifying the Constitution requires the approval of both houses on an identical version of a bill before they can convene as a Congress in Versailles to vote on it. Under French law, the National Assembly has the last word when disagreements arise with the Senate over regular legislation. But modifying the Constitution requires the approval of both houses, on an identical version of a bill, before they can convene as a Congress in Versailles to vote on it.