Marine Le Pen, France’s conservative leader, called Sunday for deporting immigrants who don’t integrate into French society during an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” Le Pen claimed “there is no discrimination in France” and that France is “the least racist country in the world”—even as polls show her leading the race for next spring’s presidential election.
The conservative leader addressed immigration head-on. “When you accept too many immigrants, you create conditions that destabilize society,” she said. She added that immigrants tend to be unemployed at higher rates than French citizens, so France can no longer import the unemployed. Asked whether high unemployment among immigrants stems from discrimination, Le Pen shot back: “No, that doesn’t exist here. Don’t bring those ideas here—France is the least racist country in the world.”
Le Pen went on to say that anyone immigrating to France must integrate into the national community—unlike the American model, where different communities can live side by side while maintaining their own customs. She made clear that an immigrant who arrives in France and says he hates the country, disrespects its culture, or refuses to honor its laws will be told “the door is wide open”—and may even be required to leave.
Le Pen, who has run for president three times before and was convicted of embezzlement, is now enjoying a surge in public support. Recent French polls show her popularity has risen significantly since violent protests erupted across the country. In the interview, she blamed “the far left” for the riots and economic troubles, during which some 2,500 businesses were damaged and around 1,500 police officers were injured. She argued that the instability in the streets is expected to significantly strengthen her political standing.