The “Immigration Question”: Mainspring of Sarkozy's Presidency

Abstract

A major preoccupation in French politics since the mid-1980s, the issue of immigration has featured prominently in the policies of president Sarkozy. Although there is nothing particularly new in his approach compared with those of his predecessors, we may be surprised at how frequently this issue has arisen. In effect, looming ever larger, the “immigration question” has remained on the public agenda throughout Sarkozy's presidency and cannot be separated from its powerful media image. For Nicolas Sarkozy, to broach the topic of immigration has been to set his communication machine to work. Here, albeit not for the first time, the extreme right Front National's relationship with the electorate has been an influential part of the process. With its particularly hostile attitude towards immigration, this sector of public opinion, which is often thought, whether rightly or wrongly, to be growing in size and strength, has repeatedly determined the president's stance.

Keywords:

• Sarkozy
• France
• Immigration
• Banlieues
• Front National
• Diversity
• Islam.

Notes

1. In ironic mode, Marine Le Pen seized the opportunity to award him top marks and offer him honorary membership of her party.

2. The figure of 24 percent does not appear in official sources. Its greatest interest lies in its impact on the media, given that the level of unemployment in France stood at almost ten percent.

3. At least one meeting was organized and run by prefecture staff in each of the 342 arrondissements into which France's départements are divided.

4. Because she was nominated to a key post, Rachida Dati came to symbolize successful integration (Richard).

5. The term banlieue (literally, suburbs) is used in France as a euphemism for disadvantaged urban areas containing dense concentrations of minority ethnic groups.

6. Some of these measures were never implemented, being either rejected by Parliament or declared invalid by the Constitutional Council.

7. See the article in this collection by Dominic Thomas.