France: Roma not Welcome | European Journal

French President Nikolas Sarkozy has announced drastic measures against the Roma and Sinti minorities. He wants all illegal camps closed within three months, and Roma without legal papers are set to be deported.Opposition parties and human rights groups have criticized the move, labeling it xenophobic and racist. Sarkozy's policy turnaround was prompted by recent clashes between Roma and the police in Brittany, where a Roma youth was shot while fleeing from a police traffic spot check. Later, a group of angry Roma vandalized the local police station. Some believe Sarkozy is using the issue to divert public attention away from the tax and donations scandal involving L'Oréal heir Liliane Bettencourt.