Dual nationals in france: we are a help not a hindrance

OFFICIALS RESPOND TO FAR-RIGHT’S JUNE PROPOSAL TO BAN CITIZENS WITH DOUBLE NATIONALITY FROM HOLDING CERTAIN JOBS A proposal by the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) to ban French

citizens with dual-national status from certain jobs provoked a lot of controversy ahead of July’s elections. The idea was put forward by RN leader Jordan Bardella on June 24 and would

relate to “sensitive” jobs, particularly those in the security and defence sectors. He did not specify which jobs, but said “very few people” would be affected. The call was taken up by

other RN members, with some favouring extending it to all government jobs and elected positions. Read more: Can the French far right ban foreigners from certain jobs? Legal experts were

quick to point out that this measure could only happen if the Constitution was changed to allow such discrimination. The proposal is dead for the time being following the RN’s defeat in the

second round of voting on July 7, however the discomfort it caused among dual national citizens is very real. Read more: Election results around France: how did your area vote in final

round? ‘WE ALREADY HAVE A DUTY OF LOYALTY’ Among those who criticised the measure was diplomat Mohamed Bouabdallah, who is currently the French cultural attaché to the United States and who

holds French and Algerian dual nationality. In an article in Le Monde, he said all fonctionnaires (public servants) had a duty of neutrality and loyalty towards the state. He made a link

between the RN’s proposal and Vichy France, the collaborationist regime in power between 1940 and 1944, which reserved all government jobs for French men – something Charles de Gaulle

abolished when he came to power. “Thousands of us have dual nationality,” he said. “And in spite of what RN thinks, we are not organised in a ‘community’, a sort of fifth column, which

passes its time counting how many there are in government posts or targeting posts we can fill in sensitive jobs, although we are in Quai d’Orsay [home of the French foreign ministry], in

the army, in the police, in the gendarmerie and in the secret service.” He added: “It pains me to think that our loyalty to France is questioned.”  ‘WE ARE A HELP NOT A HINDRANCE’

French/British dual national Steve Jackson, who is a longstanding elected member of Albi (Tarn) council, called the RN proposal “absolutely stupid”. “When I look at my career in France [he

has lived here for 43 years], I have worked as an English teacher for the Chambre de commerce, and have helped hundreds of business leaders improve their English, which has been a big help

to businesses. “And then towards the end I taught at the university, and helped many bright students going on to high things improve their English too.” Both the Chambre de commerce and

university positions are linked to the state, so could be affected by a ban. Mr Jackson added: “Both in my work on the local council and as a campaigner for bicycle safety, I am convinced

that being a dual national is a help, not a hindrance. “Having experience of living in two countries means you can see that they are different, not better or worse, and see what can be used

to improve where you are – in my case, France.” His opinions were echoed by Christine Hasse, a French/German dual national who has been on the local council of Gilhac-et-Bruzac in Ardèche

since 2008. She gained French nationality last year, in part so she could be appointed a deputy mayor in charge of steering a local development plan (plan local d’urbanisme, or PLU) through

the council. Her nationality application necessitated three interviews with gendarmes because of her activities organising protests against nuclear power. “So I have been very thoroughly

vetted and found not to pose a danger to France,” she joked. “But seriously, because I have experience of how things are done at a local level in Germany, where there is a tradition of

compromise, I am able to try and steer things through by compromise, something which I find does not always come to the fore with French colleagues. “Having two nationalities is often

actually a help in getting things done.” She also pointed to the impracticality of any ban.