Sarkozy: France Could Leave Schengen

Nicolas Sarkozy speaking at an European Council back in 2010. EPA/BGNES

France might consider leaving the Schengen free movement area over fear of rising migration, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

This is only the latest of a string of anti-immigrant statements on the part of Sarkozy, who is well into a battle for gaining a second 5-year term as France's president at elections end of April and early May.

This week Sarkozy said that France needs to let about two times fewer immigrants to reside in it, given what he saw as chronic problems with their integration.

"Schengen treaties are no longer adequate to our situation," the French President said Sunday.

"Agreements must be revised. A structural reform must be made on Schengen, just as we did in the eurozone," added he.

Sarkozy clarified that if that does not happen, France could well consider leaving Schengen.

He and representatives of his Union for a Popular Movement have been resorting to nationalistic rhetoric to lure far-rightist voters from the National Front.

In opinion polls, Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande has a comfortable lead ahead of Sarkozy.

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