Accompanied by Pierre Schapira, Member of the European Parliament, François Hollande met with Roger Cukierman just a few days after having welcomed him at the head of a CRIF delegation to the Socialist Party congress in Le Mans. The Socialist leader expressed his pleasure that CRIF is “an element of our public life” and that it is “sensitive to the need for our national community to live in harmony”.
Analyzing the crisis that has shaken the French suburbs in recent weeks, François Hollande considered that what has happened is “particularly serious” because “young people born in France have revolted against our country and our symbols”. The First Secretary insisted on the need to fight all forms of discrimination. “These issues must be dealt with as social, cultural and political issues,” he went on to say, addressing the CRIF leadership. François Hollande expressed his “relief” that there had not been a rise in anti-Semitism during the riots, but went on to add: “We are living at a time when anything is possible against synagogues and Jewish schools.” He also expressed his concern about the “community groupings” that are taking place. The First Secretary added that, while it may be a good thing for “associations to come together and thus make their weight more felt on society”, it is nevertheless “dangerous” when they “change their nature and become politically motivated communities”. François Hollande reminded his listeners that “the Socialist Party exerts an absolute watchfulness with regard to anti-Semitism”, which can take on many different forms.
Concerning the Near East, the First Secretary recalled that in the past there had been “divergent views” between the Socialist Party and CRIF. However, he expressed his satisfaction with Ariel Sharon’s actions in recent months: “The withdrawal from Gaza is an encouraging sign that honors both Sharon and Israel.” He underlined the fact that the Israeli Prime Minister has gained real “credit”. François Hollande reckons that there will be an electoral “clarification” in Israel in March and that this will not be a “bad thing”. He said he didn’t know Amir Peretz, the new Labor Party leader who has come “from the trade union movement”. He also expressed his concerns over the political situation in the region, particularly “Iran’s intention to have nuclear weapons”, Syria’s role and the “situation in Egypt with the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood”. All this is creating a “heavy atmosphere”, according to Mr. Hollande.
François Hollande explained the “paradoxical situation” that arises during electoral periods in France where “presidential candidates talk little about foreign policy, whereas once elected the President of the Republic is called on to be heavily involved in foreign policy as an essential function of his prerogatives. Moreover, the President undertakes foreign policy for which he does not have to give account to the nation”. François Hollande expressed the wish that Parliament should take on a greater share of responsibility in defining the country’s foreign policy. He went on to say that there is a “trend which reaches far back and is known as France’s Arab policy, and that it is not acceptable for an administration to have an ideology”. He added that there is “a problem as far as the recruitment for the French foreign service is concerned as well as for ENA (the French national school for government administration). In his view the recruitment process needs overhauling.”
Regarding the slowness of the previous Socialist government to recognize the wave of anti-Semitism sweeping France in 2000, François Hollande admitted: “This was the worst possible image we could have wanted. We must assume this aspect of our present history.”
Asked about the situation in the big housing estates in the French suburbs, about affirmative action and the disaffection with France of a whole generation, the Socialist leader said: “It’s true that we should help people love France. But for France to be loved, we have to make it lovable…” He added that he opposed the notion of affirmative action founded on ethnic, religious or community identity. However, François Hollande underlined the importance of social criteria, stating that “to give more to those that have less is a longstanding principle which is not extraneous to socialist ideology”.
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