TerrorismFrench justice minister resigns over law stripping terrorists of citizenship
Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, has resigned from the government ahead of a debate over proposed laws which would strip citizenship from convicted terrorists. Taubira, one of few black women in the higher reaches of French politics and a committed left-winger, has not hidden her opposition to the changes to the citizenship laws.
French justice minister Christiane Taubira // Source: commons.wikimedia.com
Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, has resigned from the government ahead of a debate over proposed laws which would strip citizenship from convicted terrorists.
The BBC reports that the laws, part of constitutional reforms initiated by the government in the wake of the 13 November terrorst attacks in Paris, have gained the support among conservatives in France, but have encountered increasing opposition in the ranks of the ruling socialist party.
Taubira, one of few black women in the higher reaches of French politics and a committed left-winger, has not hidden her opposition to the changes to the citizenship laws.
Earlier today (Wednesday morning), she tweeted: “Sometimes to resist is to remain, sometimes to resist is to leave” (Parfois résister c’est rester, parfois résister c’est partir. Par fidélité à soi, à nous. Pour le dernier mot à l’éthique et au droit).
President Francois Hollande announced her resignation shortly afterward, moments before the French parliament was about to begin the debate of the citizenship bill.
Hollande said Taubira would be replaced by Jean-Jacques Urvoas, who has proven closer to Hollande, and especially to the centrist Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
Taubira, who was born in French Guiana, made a name for herself as a champion of same-sex marriage.
She has been increasingly criticized, however – even by leading members of the Socialist Party – of exhibiting a soft touch on law and order issues, and of being more concerned with the rights of criminals than the rights of crime victims.
Analysts note that ahead of the legislative elections next year, and in light of the success of the anti-immigration, tough-on-crime National Front in the first round of last month’s regional elections, Tauriba’s views on terrorism and crime were becoming a liability to the Socialist Party and its electoral prospects.
