MEDIAPART

Prime Minister François Fillon delivering speech to Senate; 8/12/11.

173 Yays against 166 Nays. At the stroke of midnight, on December 8th, after many hours of debate, the French Senate finally adopted the proposition of a Constitutional amendment that non-French residents and non European Union citizens could vote in municipal elections. This has been a hot political issue between the left and the right for at least three decades when Francois Mitterrand first promised it if elected president. This proposition was voted by the National Assembly in 2000 when the legislative majority was held by the left, under the government of Lionel Jospin, but rejected at the time by a conservative Senate. Traditionally more conservative, this venerable body of law-makers recently shifted to a leftist majority.

"Sarkozy lies...Sarkozy wants to give the vote to foreigners". The National Front demonstrates in front of Senate.

Opening the senate debate, Prime Minister François Fillon himself came to  express his government's opposition to this law. Nationality, citizenship, immigration...all emotionally charged themes as France enters the official presidential campagne period; (after the holidays). The right and left crossed swords inside the ornate Senate chambers of the Luxembourg Palace but also outside on the streets where demonstrators gathered to voice their support or opposition to the proposed law. Marine Le Pen, candidate of the National Front party (extreme right) and her supporters were separated from another gathering of human rights activists, unions, the Greens party (EELV) and various leftist organizations, by cordons of gensdarmes in riot gear.

Senator Esther Benbassa speaks to assembly demonstrating in favor of proposed bill; 8/12/11.© Thomas Haley

Many believe this latest political skirmish to be mainly symbolic. Although the bill passed in the Senate, it will be defeated in the National Assembly where the conservative Sarkozy government maintains a majority. However, if the left wins in 2012, the Socialist candidate, François Hollande, will be obliged to make this promise a reality.

Gendarmes block access to Senate and to opposing demonstrators; 8/12/11.© Thomas Haley

Marine Le Pen, whose xenophobic, anti-immigrant National Front party is gaining in popularity, especially amongst the working class, claims that President Sarkozy, (who, before becoming President, said he was not hostile to such a law) "is looking for a new electorate since the working class is abandoning him", then she waves the Islamic bogeyman: "The Islamic fundamentalists would jump on such an opportunity in order to break down the laws of our Republic." Contrary to claims from the right, foreign voters would not be eligible to serve as mayors or deputy mayors, nor would they be allowed to select senatorial electors.

Senator Esther Benbassa pleading the cause for permitting foreigners to vote before the Senate; 8/12/11.© Thomas Haley

Prime Minister Fillon was followed at the tribune by the Environmentalist (EELV) senator, Esther Benbassa: "I admit not to be outrageosly shocked by the idea of seeing foreigners, including non-European Community foreigners, voting in local elections. Considering that they pay taxes, that they abide by our laws, that they are residents for a minimum period of lets say five years, I cannot see in the name of what logic, that we should prevent them from manifesting their appreciation (by voting)  in the way that their daily life is organized." As the conservative side of the Senate floor began to mock Senator Benbassa's statement, she quickly informed them that the author of this seemingly outrageous declaration was none other than Nicolas Sarkozy himself in his book Libre published in 2001.

A French king looks down upon proceedings in the Senate chamber.© Thomas Haley