French Justice Minister quits over ‘terrorist’ nationality row

Taubira, popular among the ruling Socialists of President Francois Hollande but a target of criticism from right-wing politicians, tweeted: “Sometimes to resist means staying, sometimes resisting means leaving.” The outspoken 63-year-old, who is from French Guiana, became France’s most senior black politician when she was named to the justice ministry post in 2012.

Jean-Jacques Urvoas, the president of the parliamentary committee in charge of reviewing legislation, was named as her successor. Taubira has often been at the centre of controversy, whether as the victim of racial slurs or for pushing through a same-sex marriage bill despite fierce opposition from conservatives. Her latest battle brought her into conflict with President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls over their proposals to strip dual-national convicted terrorists of their French passports. 

Hollande called for the measure to be written into the constitution in the aftermath of the November jihadist attacks in Paris which left 130 people dead. It is part of a string of reforms meant to boost security as hundreds of French citizens - many of them dual nationals - take up arms alongside the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, and in the case of the Paris attackers, return to wreak devastation in France.

“Removing French nationality from those who blindly kill other French in the name of an ideology of terror is a strong symbolic act against those who have excluded themselves from the national community,” Valls said after the measure was announced.

But many in the Socialist party see the proposal as an act of ideological treason that discriminates against a section of the population. Just a day before the reforms were presented, Taubira announced the measure would be dropped, only to be overruled at the last minute by Hollande.

The reforms also aim to inscribe the right to declare a state of emergency in the constitution, including powers to raid homes and place people under house arrest without judicial oversight.

Valls presented the revised article of the constitution to parliament on Wednesday, ahead of a debate scheduled to start in early February.

In naming Urvoas to replace Taubira, the presidency said in a statement he would “carry out... the constitutional reform”. One of the main criticisms of the nationality clause is that it will drive a wedge between those who are only French, and those who hold a second nationality.