French President Francois Hollande has tried to put the record straight insisting that France is not being invaded by refugees as the far right would have people believe.
Hollande blasted those trying to kid the population into believing they will soon be overrun by refugees.
During a speech in Brussels, where EU leaders had gathered Hollande said: “In terms of numbers, today, France is not subject to an influx of refugees and those who argue that we are being invaded are manipulators and falsifiers, who do this only for political reasons, to scare.”
As the refugee crisis reached a head after the photo of the drowned Syrian boy stirred emotions around the world, France was criticised for not acting to take in more refugees.
In the end authorities agreed to grant asylum in 24,000 who were already in Europe as well as around 6,000 who were already in France.
Hollande has being trying hard to tackle the more xenophobic rhetoric that some on the right have been evoking, in particular former minister Nadine Morano who said France was “a country of white race”.
“Where do all the refugees go today? Essentially to Germany, Austria and Sweden. Since beginning of the year Germany has taken in more than 500,000 people and the country that does the most for refugees based on the size of its population is Sweden,” said Hollande.
It emerged than many refugees actually snubbed France’s invitation to seek asylum, preferring to try to obtain residency elsewhere.
Val says to my mind Germany will benefit from that huge influx of refugees creating in the future a strong work force and a new nation where the refugees have pride in their new country and being accepted. It will take time. I think Germany has more vision than France and the UK.
Think about the numbers Germany 500,000
France and the UK around 22,000 to 24,000
I think as European partners Germany has done more than their share and as I have said before I think our governments are letting the side down.
Report taken from The Local
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