“I cannot let it be said that national preference has been put in place,” protests Aurore Bergé

The minister reacted to comments made earlier Sunday on franceinfo by former Defender of Rights Jacques Toubon.

“I cannot let it be said that national preference has been put in place, that is not true,” challenges the Minister of Gender Equality, Aurore Bergé, on January 21 in Political Questions on France Inter. Sunday morning on franceinfo, the former Minister of Justice and Defender of Rights, Jacques Toubon, denounced the “national preference” in the law.

The former Defender of Rights affirms that with this law “we introduced (…) what I call, and what I denounce, national preference”. It is, according to him, a principle “contrary to our constitutional principles”. Aurore Bergé ensures that Jacques Toubon “when he was at the RPR he defended theses that were much harsher than the immigration text which was adopted”.

“I have no problem accepting this law”continues Aurore Bergé who claims to be able to “fight the National Rally” without “be naive”, neither “embrace their theses”. “This is not the establishment of national preference”she refutes. “Today, in the capacity that you have, for example, to receive the RSA, you already have conditions which are different depending on your duration, seniority, on the national territory”.

Thus, for Aurore Bergé, “What is national preference? It would be to say that, as you are an immigrant, you have no right to anything. That we refuse to allow you to practice professions in our country. Is that what what do we do? No. That we refuse to allow you to access benefits? No”, replies the minister. “Then we put in place rules that already exist for the activity bonus and the RSA. This is not the national preference”she adds.