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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.
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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.”
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