In France, a Call for Inclusion

Charles Flaming

Six million Muslims account for about 10% of French population, but there are not any Muslim or Arab deputies representing the immigrant communities of mainland France in the 577-seat National Assembly. There are only three Muslim senators from mainland France in 331-seat upper house. The current conservative government has named two Muslim ministers as junior member of the cabinet, but the upper ranks of mainstream political parties are all but entirely white.

Other minority politicians in France express similar frustration. “The day before each election, it is all promises about how things will change, but the day after election (mainstream parties) turn off their mobile phones, and close their doors,” said Abderrahmane Dahmane, president of the Council of French Muslim Democracy, a 3000-member group of Muslim political activists.

….unemployment among minority groups is estimated to be twice as high as France’s overall 10% jobless rate, he said in an interview. “There is no one there who can talk for us or to us.”

In an opinion pole published in early October French tabloid Le Parisien found that 88% of respondents said France’s elected bodies poorly reflect society’s make-up.

The Wall Street Journal

International, pg A8

November 11, 2005.