Dual citizenship in the cross-hairs?

Claude Goasguen, a conservative member of France's ruling UMP party and staunch supporter of President Nicolas Sarkozy, said on Wednesday that he was renouncing many of his proposals on reforming dual citizenship. Goasguen back peddled just hours after excerpts of a report he penned were published by the daily Libération, claiming the press got a hold of a “draft text” that was not meant for distribution.

The lawmaker’s ideas included forcing all French to swear their desire to be French, asking French of foreign-born parents to give up any dual citizenship status, and requiring applicants of French citizenship to renounce their previous nationality.

In a preamble to the report, Goasguen warned that French identity is being dangerously “drained of its substance because of globalization,” and called dual citizenship “a vector for potential conflicts of interests and allegiances”.


This short-lived scandal is the latest chapter in a now recurrent and dubious “debate” in France over national identity. Last year Sarkozy’s government sponsored three-months of public meetings on what it means to be French. Widely perceived as a fiasco, the initiative was later quietly folded into ministerial meetings.


Critics of Sarkozy say that questioning dual citizenship is just a way for the president to recast a political debate that only a handful of ultra-nationalist French voters think important.


Analysts in France like to talk about Sarkozy’s “hunt” for voters in “National Front territory”. In effect, Sarkozy’s 2006 presidential bid owes at least some of its success to stealing away support from sympathizers of the anti-immigration National Front party.


Recent local elections in France and a growing number of opinion polls show that now the opposite is true: voters who backed the UMP in the past are now casting ballots for the National Front and its surging presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.

Unlike the UMP, the National Front is clear on the issue of dual citizenship. In a letter to lawmakers in May, Marine Le Pen said attributing French citizenship to immigrants was watering down French identity and “criminal”.


So, as President Sarkozy reloads ahead of his 2012 re-election shootout, many here think Goasguen was really aiming for the hearts (and votes) of French nationalists. Others see a more worrying form of target practice.


Interestingly - revealingly I would say - Goasguen’s exhaustive 197-page report on dual citizenship fails to suggest how to deal with fully fledged, cheese-loving French who request an additional nationality (say American or British).

Concerned as it is with the waning Love of Country, Goasguen’s proposals ignore cases in which a French person admits by deed that their single French citizenship is insufficient.


Instead he is picking off immigrants who hold French nationality (for personal interest perhaps, but still) in high esteem, and setting his sight on the French-born children of immigrants who have never called any other country home.

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7 Comments
My daughter has both french-australian citizenship. We live in France and although she was born here and is half-french, I'd rather my daughter give up her french citizenship, leave this country and never come back then be forced to give up her Australian citizenship. My french partner would rather give up his French nationality as well if it came to that point. I'm glad I come from a Country that is so accepting of foreigners.
I have both French and US citizenship and if I were made to choose I would keep my French citizenship. I currently reside in the US and do not have the financial ability to return to France, but rest assured not a day goes by that I do not dream of the day I can return. To even suggest that my French citizenship could be taken from me is unacceptable!!!! To be very clear you will have to take it from my cold dead hand and you had better make sure I am dead when you try!!!
many Americans were born in France but now hold duel citizenship due to family considerations. these proud citizens of France represent France in the most positive way bringing to the US their love of all things French.
Robert, That happens to all bi-nationals in one way or another we're not enough of one or enough of the other. Who cares what people say in the end you're fourtunate enough to have dual citizenship, for all you know they might be having un coup de jalousie ;) To the author "Goasguen’s proposals ignore cases in which a French person admits by deed that their single French citizenship is insufficient" Fabulous point.
Robert, That happens to all bi-nationals in one way or another we're not enough of one or enough of the other. Who cares what people say in the end you're fourtunate enough to have dual citizenship, for all you know they might be having un coup de jalousie ;) To the author "Goasguen’s proposals ignore cases in which a French person admits by deed that their single French citizenship is insufficient" Fabulous point.
Interesting article, but the last paragraph is not clear. Particularly with the phrase 'pick off'.
I am both a U.S.& French citizenship. My French citizenship is derived from my French mother. I resent any one calling me not "French Enough"! I have legal paperwork verifying both my U.S. and French citizenship.

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