Be ‘French Enough’? Far-Right Proposal Takes Us Back to the 1930s

Some were born in Algeria, Morocco and Lebanon and then emigrated. Others were born in France but are the children of foreign parents. They have dual citizenship, live in France and are outraged by the program presented by far-right candidate Jordan Bardella, who intends to bar dual nationals from certain jobs.

Bardella, the National Union’s prime ministerial candidate and one of the favorites in the legislative race, said he wants to prevent French citizens who also have other nationalities from occupying “extremely sensitive positions”, that is, “the most strategic positions in the State”. The measure, one of the most controversial introduced during the election campaign, would involve an organic law and would cover “a very small number of people,” according to the party.

The rules of the civil service apply to so-called sensitive positions. “In certain cases, it is necessary to be French or European. Certain positions, such as those in the information services, are subject to qualification at different levels, where your pedigree is checked,” the National Union’s program states.

“The Franco-Africans from Black Africa or the Maghreb have clearly understood that this proposal is not directed against the Swedes or the Finns,” says Benoit Onambele, a Franco-Cameroonian who works for an international organization in Paris.

According to Le ParisienIn January, the National Union had already presented a bill that would allow binationals to be banned from holding public office and corporate positions. It is estimated that “3.3 million French people could be prevented from working in the future.”

“How can you tell someone who has chosen France, who has embraced its values, often before they arrive, that they are not French enough? It makes no sense…”, also asks Ghada Hatem, a French-Lebanese obstetrician and gynecologist and founder of the Maison des Femmes in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).

In the 1930s, France passed a measure prohibiting binational citizens from practicing medicine, becoming lawyers, or civil servants for ten years after their naturalization.

“The goal was to prevent Jewish doctors and lawyers from practicing their profession in France. At the time, this was an openly anti-Semitic measure,” he explained to the publication. Le Parisien Serge Slama, Professor of Public Law at the University of Grenoble-Alpes.

This Sunday, the French are being called to vote in early legislative elections. At stake in these elections are 577 seats in the National Assembly (parliament). If no party wins more than 50% of the votes (i.e. at least 289 elected) (a likely scenario), a second round will take place, already scheduled for next Sunday, July 7.

Legislative elections were not due until 2027, but they were unexpectedly called by French President Emmanuel Macron after the defeat of his party (Renaissance) and the sharp rise of the National Union in the European Parliament elections on June 9.