what to remember from the debate of the 7th constituency of Pas-de-Calais
The migration issue was at the center of this debate for the candidates of this 7th constituency of Pas-de-Calais which includes Calais, Audruicq, Ardres or Marck-en-Calaisis. A debate to review in replay.
They are four candidates for the legislative elections of June 12 and 19, 2022 gathered on the political platform of France 3 Hauts-de-France: Pierre-Henri Dumontoutgoing deputy Les Républicains, Jean-Pierre Moussally – candidate NUPES (EELV), municipal councilor in Calais, Marc de Fleurian – RN, municipal councilor in Calais and Henry Waroczyk – Presidential majority group, municipal councilor in Calais. Everyone was invited to present a photograph of their choice of the territory of the riding, an opportunity for them to address a subject close to their hearts.
This 7th constituency includes Calais, its port, Ardres and its lake, Audruicq. It has 128,383 inhabitants with an average age of 38.7 years, a little younger than elsewhere in France. On the other hand, the unemployment rate is higher at 8.7% in Calais (+2.5 points compared to the national average).
November 24, 2021, 27 people perish in the English Channel off Calais after attempting a crossing for England, the heaviest toll since 2018, the date of the explosion of crossings. Eleven other people also lost their lives trying to cross the Channel according to the services of the maritime prefecture.
In all, some 52,000 people would have attempted this perilous adventure in 2021, five times more than in 2020. And 28,000 people would have managed to reach Great Britain according to the British authorities.
Asked about a government failure, the candidate Henri Waroczyk – Together, municipal councilor in Calais repeated that there should be no “fixing points and that zero immigration does not exist”. The RN candidate, Marc de Fleurian, reacted by proposing a closed center where “the illegal immigrants will be fed-housed-laundered before their repatriation to their country of origin”.
Listen to the video extract below where he proposes that migrants “take the example of Ukrainians”
“A closed center for illegal immigrants before repatriation to their country of origin”
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©France Televisions
Still on the migration issue, Jean-Pierre Moussally – NUPES (EELV), municipal councilor in Calais, appeared lonely on the set of France 3 Hauts-de-France by advocating “a welcome policy, worthy and decent”, which favored integration and living together and denouncing “the harassment of migrants by the police”.
The outgoing deputy, Pierre-Henri Dumont (LR) proposed semi-closed centers and the application of French law. “I’m tired of Mr. Moussally going to bury dead migrants in the square of the indigents of the Marck cemetery” he told the candidate Nupes, who replied: “what you say is outrageous”.
And Pierre-Henri Dumont to resume “As soon as we create a reception point and a point of attachment in Calais, it overflows and we can no longer manage. The only solution is to send them far from Calais by bus. Or those who can apply for asylum or papers, those who have the skills to work stay to work”.
– “You encourage illegal immigration! Those who break into French soil obtain rights.”, cut Marc de Fleurian. The tone rises before the presenter, Hélène Tonneillier gives the floor to Henri Waroczyk : “I live in Calais. Calais is not the jungle, we walk freely in Calais without being bothered by migrants.
– “Well get on the bus” Marc de Fleurian
– “I’m getting on the bus sir!” Henry Waroczyk
– “Why would you be bothered on a bus by a migrant”
– Because they are people…
– Who don’t have the same skin color as you?!
– Don’t teach me that lesson!
Watch the full debate:
To follow also, the other debates and information on the legislative elections in Hauts-de-France on this page and on france.tv