It is a peculiarity of the age in France that the subject that most divides the political class is the one that most unites the people they govern. Immigration is the issue that needs to be urgently addressed, according to voters, a message they have been telling their politicians for years. In January 2013, a poll found that 70 per cent of the electorate believed there were too many foreigners in the country; that figure has remained constant over the years, rising slightly in 2023 after the riots, atrocities and Islamist attacks that have scarred the Republic this year.
A poll last week disclosed that 80 per cent of the public believe France should no longer accept any migrants. Racist? A few might be. Most, however, are simply fed up with the grim reality of mass uncontrolled immigration. Last week, official government figures revealed that 35 per cent of suspects arrested for violent robbery are foreigners, a figure that rises to 41 per cent for burglary.
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