Nicolas Sarkozy: "Too much time has been wasted"

(Baonghean) - Former French President and Chairman of the UMP Nicolas Sarkozy gave an interview to Le Monde newspaper, expressing his views on the security policies that France has, is, and will implement since the November 13 terrorist attack.

Are you satisfied with the speech of current President Francois Hollande before the National Assembly on November 16?

We have witnessed a sudden, unprecedented and dramatic reversal in the government’s foreign and security policy. I personally welcome this change because it is consistent with what we have been proposing for many months.

Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy served as President of the French Republic from May 16, 2007 to May 16, 2012. Photo: EPA

On the domestic front, the stripping of French nationality from terrorists with dual nationality and born in France has been considered a necessity. We proposed this issue in January this year without being accepted.

On foreign policy, the President finally agreed to join hands with Vladimir Putin in a grand alliance and admitted that the fight against Daesh would not be successful without an alliance with Russia.

The Republican proposals have been accepted, will the Republican Party have a more cooperative attitude with the Government?

After this major change, the attitude of the opposition Republican Party will certainly have a more constructive change. But a question arises: Why is the change so slow to come? Why was this not done earlier?

The terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo happened almost a year ago. Immediately after that, everything the opposition party proposed was not accepted.

Much more needs to be done, such as banning and punishing those who access and follow jihadist websites. Or the implementation of the PNR project – a European data record of airline passengers.

What do you think about the current President's proposal to change the Constitution?

In theory, I am not against constitutional reform, but everything depends on the content of the reform. We will consider its content in the most in-depth and practical way.

If these reforms would immediately improve the security and safety of the French, we would support them. But if they were merely to open a legal debate, it would be our citizens who would react first.

Is this a "trap" of the President when approving a series of proposals of the opposition party?

I don't think so. Because, for the proposal to reform the Constitution to be approved, it must have a majority of more than 3/5 of the total number of Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the opposition party does not cooperate, then constitutional reform is impossible.

Incumbent President Francois Hollande needs the cooperation of the opposition party to pass constitutional reform. Photo: MaxPPP

So I hope the government will continue to consider our untouched proposals, which include two essential measures: house arrest and electronic bracelets for “S” file subjects – identified by intelligence agencies as potential national security threats; and extended secure detention for terrorist prisoners who have completed their sentences.

Both measures are currently legally blocked, and a constitutional reform is key to removing the obstacles.

Having mentioned the “loopholes” in the “French security system”, do you think it is possible to avoid attacks like this?

With such an unprecedented number of casualties, if we still insist that the security system has no loopholes, how much casualties will it take for people to accept this reality? Have lessons been learned from the Charlie Hebdo incident and the series of terrorist attacks in January? The answer is no.

Too much time has been wasted. The Congressional Inquiry Commission published its report in June and wrote to the President last September. It made very specific recommendations, but its authors have never received a response from the government…

After the military intervention in Syria, the government has not yet fully understood the consequences and risks to domestic security. We should have strengthened the security system against terrorism at that time.

What is the link between the immigration crisis and jihadists entering France?

We must not equate migrants with jihadists. But the reality is that the crisis in Syria has opened up Europe's borders to terrorists.

I think it is necessary to convene a Council of European Leaders. The old Schengen system is “dead”. Border controls must remain until a new system is implemented. At that time, countries must agree on a common immigration policy.

The current President has also underestimated the economic and financial situation of France when discussing security solutions, domestic and foreign affairs in the current context. The budget deficit and public debt are a burden on our independence and autonomy.

Thuc Anh

(According to Le Monde)