France's Sarkozy defends immigration stance

By Staff
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PARIS, Mar 11 (Reuters) Nicolas Sarkozy defended today his plan to create a ministry of immigration and national identity, denying allegations that he was wrapping himself in extremist ideology to try to win the presidential election.

Leftist and centrist opponents have accused the conservative frontrunner of flirting with Jean-Marie Le Pen's far right National Front party in an effort to bolster his own support.

As interior minister, Sarkozy has introduced a crackdown on illegal immigration and today he said the defence of French identity should not be seen as a taboo subject.

''We have a gigantic problem with integration,'' he said in an interview with Canal Plus television, warning that the influx of foreigners could dilute France's national character.

''I am saying that the immigrants who come here have to sign up to the national identity. Is that shocking?'' he said.

Sarkozy's call last week for the creation of a ministry to protect France's traditional values appeared to mark a shift to the right for his campaign and a direct response to the rising popularity of centrist candidate Francois Bayrou.

France has sometimes struggled to absorb the millions of migrants who have poured into the country since World War Two, and problems over integration were partly blamed for riots that swept the nation's poor suburban ghettos in 2005.

Socialist candidate Segolene Royal branded Sarkozy's idea as ''ignoble'' while Bayrou accused him of ''crossing the line''.

An opinion poll released at the weekend showed Bayrou on 23 per cent, level in second place with Royal and more than double what he was polling in January. Sarkozy remained out front with 28 per cent, according to the IFOP survey.

The top two contenders in the April 22 first round vote will go forward to a second round run off on May 6 and surveys have suggested that Bayrou, a horse-breeder from southwestern France, would beat either rival in a head-to-head.

Up until now, Sarkozy has tried to moderate the hardline image he had built up as interior minister, but his robust defence of French identity suggested he was anxious to bolster his right flank and ensure he makes it through to the run off.

However, he denied that he was preparing to make any deal with Le Pen, who is seen winning around 13 per cent of the vote and has traditionally been ostracised by France's ruling elite.

Le Pen is struggling to gather the sponsorship he needs from elected officials to enable him to register as a candidate and Sarkozy has called on France's army of mayors to lend a hand both to the far-right and hard-left candidates to let them run.

Sarkozy denied allegations he was simply trying to neuter Bayrou, who could become a magnate for protest voters if fringe candidates are excluded, and said he was defending democracy.

''I think that if the extreme left and extreme right are not represented, that goes against the democratic spirit,'' he said.

Le Pen shocked France in the 2002 election by beating Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin and ending in second place behind President Jacques Chirac.

Reuters MS DB2119

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