France's new government is considering stricter immigration laws, as indicated on Wednesday, amid pressure from the far-right National Rally (RN) following the arrest of a Moroccan suspect in the murder of a 19-year-old female student in Paris.
Marine Le Pen's RN party has recently warned that it may withdraw its tacit support for Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet if concerns over immigration and other issues are not addressed. "It's time for this government to act: our compatriots are angry and will not be content with just words," RN leader Jordan Bardella said on Tuesday evening, referring to the murder of Philippine, 19, and accusing the state of being too lenient on security.
Philippine's body was discovered buried in a Paris park on Saturday, according to French media, including Le Parisien. The suspect, a 22-year-old Moroccan, was arrested in Switzerland on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday morning, new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated, "If we need to change the rules, let's change them." Retailleau, from the conservative Republicans party, had previously indicated that France is likely to adopt much tougher immigration and security measures to reflect a broader rightward shift in society.
Greens lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau cautioned against the far right using the murder to "spread its racist hatred." The suspect had been due to be expelled from France after serving time in jail for rape, according to Le Monde newspaper and BFM TV. He had been sent to a detention center for illegal migrants in June, pending his expulsion, but was released by a judge on September 3 due to administrative delays in the expulsion process.
Three days after his release, the paperwork to expel him was completed, but the man had disappeared.
