In answering a question from the deputy Rassemblement national (RN), Mathilde Paris on the migrants from the Ocean Viking, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, exacerbated the controversy on November 22. Asked about the release of almost all of these 234 migrants from the administrative center despite his assertions that they will not be, he kicked in touch and called the parliamentarian a“internationalist” who “allies with the enemies who are attacking France at this time”. Remarks which targeted Italy, whose refusal to welcome the 234 migrants on this boat caused diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
During her speech, MP Mathilde Paris recalled the government’s decision on November 10 to welcome the Ocean Viking boat to Toulon. She recalls the declaration of the Minister of the Interior, during his appearance on the 8 p.m. newscast some time later, according to which the 234 migrants “will not be able to leave the administrative center”.
“However, just two weeks later, the situation is catastrophic. Almost all of these migrants have been released. Of the 44 minors taken care of, 26 fled. Of the 123 who had been refused entry into French territory, a hundred were nevertheless left free to leave the area to wait by court order”she recalled.
A “referendum on immigration”
Ms Paris described these facts as “fiasco”, which illustrate “helplessness” of the Darmanin government of “control migratory flows”to face “to the oppression of far-left NGOs complicit in smugglers” or at “reform the migration policy to make it more dissuasive”.
The MP expressed her “doubt” as to “the effectiveness of the next immigration law” to which Gérald Darmanin had referred shortly before. Recalling that the executive is considering “to take advantage of this text to create an immigration channel for jobs in tension”it offers the “solutions of the National Rally, acclaimed by the French”.
“My question is very simple, what are you waiting for, to give voice to the people, by organizing a referendum on immigration”she finishes.
In response, the Minister of the Interior said he believed that Mathilde Paris “is not patriotic if she allies herself with the enemies who are attacking France at this time”. If he does not cite Italy by name, he clearly mentioned Giorgia Meloni, President of the Italian Council. “You are siding with Madame Meloni and her government who have failed to respect international law, instead you are attacking French police officers,” he added.
????#QAG : I fail #OceanViking illustrates the impotence of your government. After 2 weeks, almost all of the migrants were released or fled. What are you waiting for to finally give the voice to the French people by organizing a referendum on immigration?
#DirectAN pic.twitter.com/EVzKshb2j4— Mathilde PARIS (@MathildePARIS45) November 22, 2022
On Twitter, several political figures and Internet users expressed their astonishment to hear Italy, “a brother country and member of the European Union”to be qualified “enemy of France”.
“90,000 people landed in Italy”
On November 10, after weeks of legal and diplomatic negotiations between Italy and France, the Ocean Viking docked at the military port of Toulon with the 234 migrants on board. These survivors were placed in a waiting area to have their asylum applications examined.
Guest of the 20 hour newspaper of TF1, Gérald Darmanin affirms that “two-thirds” migrants on board this ship will be welcomed by other European countries. He revealed that 9 states, including Germany, Croatia, Romania and Portugal, gave their consent, but not Italy. “We offered it to the Italians and they didn’t want it”, he said. He also promised “suites” against the transalpine country.
The Minister of the Interior had also affirmed that migrants who do not meet the criteria of asylum seekers “will be renewed directly” and that they “will be held in an administrative centre”he specified.
His Italian counterpart, Matteo Piantedosi, did not fail to answer him. “France’s reaction to the request to welcome 234 migrants, when Italy welcomed 90,000 only this year, is totally incomprehensible”he said.
“What we don’t understand is why Italy should willingly accept what others are unwilling to accept”added the Italian Minister of the Interior.
“This year almost 90,000 people landed in Italy. Thirteen European countries have pledged to take back a total of 8,000 people, less than a tenth. So far, a total of 117 people have been taken care of (0.13% of arrivals), including 38 by France (0.04%)”he replied in his press release.