So the question is debate among thinkers

The Minister of Immigration Eric Besson sent today to the prefects circular asking them to organize debates on "national identity". It multiplies the media go and can now rely on a survey of CSA-"Le Parisien" whereby 60 of the French consider positively this initiative.

Why this debate now If the initiative is controversial so, firstly because its schedule: it must be completed on 28 February, on the eve of regional elections, vote where the majority fears the FN thrust that would complicate it the task. "The" national identity "feels electoral stock", denounced MP Greens Noël Mamère. "". "The string is big," said the Socialist Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, convinced that it is to forget the controversy over Jean Sarkozy and the size of deficits and social problems. The Government rightly recalls that it is a promise of Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign. Of course, but he had already made, in 2007, a gun to capture the votes of the extreme right. "If we had not"national identity", it would be behind Ségolène." "If I am to 30, it is that Le Pen voters", he explained, according to remarks reported in his book by the writer Yasmina Reza. During the first half of the quinquennium, the new Ministry of Immigration and national identity indeed more focused on the renewed border on the answer to the question "what is be French".

Should we define the French identity Whistles against the Marseillaise in games of the France of football team (against the Algeria in 2001, the Morocco in 2007, the Tunisia in 2008) have undoubtedly created a malaise. So, the question is debate among thinkers. Max Gallo j. that there is "the fundamental that it is worth remembering." Patrick Weil argued that "there not one way to be French" and that it is "unbearable" want to "provide something that has always been diverse and fluid." The political class is also shared, sometimes beyond partisan divisions. "In this world of the 21st century, it values, roots, references", said the Secretary General of the UMP Xavier Bertrand, almost in agreement with the Socialist Ségolène Royal, in reverse of the PS, wishing that this "fundamental" debate should take place. Member of the Government, Martin Hirsch considers him "The France is not a problem of identity", and other tenors of the majority argue that good definitions already exist.

What identity To signify their reserves or their hostility to the reopening of the debate, Alain Juppé, Philippe Séguin and Jean-Pierre Chevenement have all cited historian Ernest Renan, who defined, in 1882, the nation as a "daily plebiscite", a choice made by men who are "slaves or of their race, neither of their language, or of their religion".", or the course of rivers or the direction of the mountain ranges". The nation as a choice made by citizens rather than a framework imposing criteria related to the birth. "The nation, is seeking to live together", said Alain Juppe, is "to know what makes the Republican connection", insists Ségolène Royal. This debate between "citizen design or ethnic design," recalled by Jean-Pierre Chevenement, crossed the first half of the 20th century, French policy preferring after the two world wars, to speak of "Republic". Eric Besson rejects course any ethnic design, highlighting the need to know and sing the Marseillaise or that of the civics course and wanting to discuss also of "the contribution of immigration to the"national identity ". But some concomittences feed confusion: as put in a name "immigration and"national identity"", or revive in the same week this debate and deportations of Afghans by aircraft and then add the problem of the burqa.

A double-edged weapon Overcome in 2007, the national Front immediately reacted against the revival of the debate by the Executive. "It is once too often, this hollow," launched Jean-Marie Le Pen. Opting for an alternative strategy, his daughter Marine said "chick" then unsuccessfully sought an audience with the head of State. In the majority, some worry, as Christine Boutin: "It opens a boulevard to the extreme right."Others the opposite bet, convinced that the President of the national Front is too worn to effectively carry out the counter-offensive. A Minister assured: "controversy is objectively our electoral interests."