French press review 8 January 2016

Today's French press review is all about terrorism, counter-terrorism and its impact on French society. Plus, The Huffington Post looks at accusations that Justice Minister Christiane Taubira rented a social housing flat.

DR

Left wing Libération takes on a new anti-terrorism bill prepared by the French government. "First cops of France", reads Libé's headline which refers to President François Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

The newspaper worries about the new bill that will, it says, give more power to police forces and less to the judicial system.

The new measures include the possibility for police to raid private homes at night as well as the controversial proposal to strip dual nationals of their nationality if they are convicted of terrorism.

This is all part of a constitutional reform that aims to enshrine the state of emergency in the constitution.

"When it comes to what the government is saying, everything is fine," writes Libé in an editorial. But that's on paper, because when it comes to measures, what the government is doing is quite worrying, it says.

"Words have been spoke; acts must follow," it concludes.

Right-wingLe Figaro doesn't agree with Libération. In an editorial, the newspaper criticises left-wing MPs fighting against the new bill.

"The objective of the reform is to save time when catching our enemies," it writes.

Numerous voices on the left have criticised the proposals, especially the one about dual nationals, and it looks like Hollande might not have a majority in favour of his reform. But, and this is a first for Le Figaro, "Hollande must hold on".

Those against the reform are stuck in the wrong century, according to the paper.

"France is not being threatened by the sounds of boots from a dictatorship [...] but by the hatred of those who kill in the name of Allah," it concludes.

Catholic La Croix has an article on the French Jewish community and the fact that more and more of them are leaving the country.

According to the newspaper, 8,000 people did their Alya   meaning they left for Israel    in 2015, a 10 per cent increase compared to 2014.

Of course, the events of last year, and especially the hostage situation in the Kosher supermarket that left four people dead in January, are an important factor in the decision to leave the country.

According to a study, 63 per cent of people of Jewish origin think antisemitism is largely present in France, while 52 per cent worry for their children's future.

The newspaper spoke to a Jewish mother, Florence, who debated about leaving France for Israel last year. Ultimately, she decided against leaving because she didn't feel like she would fit in there.

But that's one of the issues for the French Jewish community: not being completely French, but also not being a foreigner.

"On one side we blame some people for leaving France," a man called Philippe told La Croix. "But on the other, the French don't recognise themselves in the people who were there because they were Jewish. It gives you the feeling that you're not being understood."

Justice Minister Christiane Taubira is under fire ... or so that was the goal of weekly Marianne, which published a story on how Taubira had briefly rented a social housing flat in Paris.

The news was shaping up to be a new scandal for the socialist government, but according to the French Huffington Post, it appears that Marianne is not being completly honest.

In fact, it says, while the justice minister did briefly rent a flat that had a controlled rent of about 2,000 euros for 100 m2, "Taubira didn't know about this when she signed the lease. When she heard about it, she cancelled the lease", it said.

Plus, argues the website, "while it's a compromising political move, it wasn't illegal".