President Hollande has been fully aware for some time of the unease in France at present, both in his Cabinet and in the electorate in general. He knew privately that he must do something to revive his authority !
The opportunity arose a few days ago when Manuel Valls, the Minister of the Interior, ordered the expulsion of a family from Kosovo which had illegally entered France in January 2009. Permission to stay had been repeatedly refused.
It is known as the Leonarda affair, because a daughter of 15 of that name was rounded-up on a school trip by police in order to join her expelled family. The left wing of the Socialist Government was scandalised and severely criticised Valls.
François Hollande ordered an administrative enquiery to verify what went wrong. Today he made known his decisions. He said that the expulsion ordered by Manuel Valls was correct and justified by French law. This appeased 74% of the French population who appreciate his work as a Minister.
However, to pacify the French Left, he applied the wisdom of Salomon and said that if Leonarda wanted to continue her education, she could return alone without her family, and would be accepted in France.
The reaction today was immediate ! Her French schoolfriends said they would continue to strike, others asked who would pay her costs. Is it "human" for her to be without her family ?
This is a perfect example of the wisdom of Hollande ! He talks but stamps his authority on nothing ! The problem does not "go away" ! The French Press will make a thousand comments like this to-morrow ! Opposition MPs will not be tender with their remarks either !
In fact Holland fosters anxiety instead of acting and solving problems.
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