Hollande drops controversial bid to strip terrorists of French citizenship

French President François Hollande announced on the 30 March 2016 that he would not push ahead with plans to change the constitution, including a clause allowing convicted terrorists to be stripped of their French nationality, after the two houses of the French parliament failed to agree on the measure. The plan to insert into the constitution the rules for a state of emergency was also abandoned.

The proposed reforms had split his own Socialist government and was opposed by the centre-right opposition.

However, commentators suggested that the decision was damaging for the President, who was looking increasingly isolated, unpopular and beleaguered one year away from the 2017 presidential election.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: French democracy under 'threat' from state of emergency http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-democracy-under-threat-from-state-of-emergency/

The Local.fr, 30.03.16: Hollande finally sees sense if only for selfish reasons http://www.thelocal.fr/20160330/hollande-sees-sense-even-if-for-selfish-reasons

ESO: Background information: François Hollande pledges to keep reforming after cabinet reshuffle http://www.europeansources.info/record/francois-hollande-pledges-to-keep-reforming-after-cabinet-reshuffle/

The Guardian, 30.03.16: Hollande drops plan to revoke citizenship of dual-national terrorists http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/30/francois-hollande-drops-plan-to-revoke-citizenship-of-dual-national-terrorists

BBC News, 30.03.16: Paris attacks: Hollande drops plans to strip nationality http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35924701

Politico, 30.03.16: François Hollande drops plan to change constitution http://www.politico.eu/article/francois-hollande-france-terror-attack-drops-plan-to-change-constitution/

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2016: Hollande withdraws constitutional reform http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156559/hollande-withdraws-constitutional-reform

---