FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS Sarkozy has said there are too many
immigrants in France and that he will halve the number of
arrivals to the country if he is re-elected next month.
Speaking during a televised debate last night, Sarkozy said that
integration is failing and that France must accommodate fewer
people from other countries.  The president, whose father was a
Hungarian immigrant, said that he wants to introduce tougher
controls on the benefits immigrant receive.  Immigrants are
currently entitled to the same benefits as people born in
France. Sarkozy said he wants to change the residency rules so
immigrants have to have lived in France for a certain number of
years before being able to claim social welfare benefits for
people on low pay, or pensions.  Around 180,000 people are
admitted to France every year – a figure Sarkozy said he will
cut to around 100,000, according a report in Le Monde.  The
president emphasised that universal healthcare would not be
affected by the proposed cuts, saying:  I do not