Laurent Wauquiez’s Proposal on OQTF: A Wave of Political and Local Indignation

Laurent Wauquiez’s recent statement, proposing to place individuals under Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF) in a detention center in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, has sparked a political outcry. This proposal, made in an interview with the right-wing JDNews, has been widely criticized by political figures across the spectrum and has generated significant local backlash from elected officials in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

The Left Condemns the Drift of the French Right

Wauquiez’s remarks quickly prompted reactions from the left, accusing the right of further radicalizing. Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the Socialist Party, denounced the ideological shift, questioning, “What will be left for the extreme right?” Patrick Kanner, leader of the Socialist senators, stated, “The French right has lost its compass.” Alexis Corbière, a former member of France’s Unsubmissive party, argued that this proposal represented a return to outdated practices: “The right is reinventing the penal colony, abolished in 1938.” Other voices, like Léon Deffontaines from the Communist Party, labeled Wauquiez as a “republican in name only” and predicted that he would “end up in the trash bin of history.”

A Controversy That Crosses Political Lines

The outrage extends beyond the left. In addition to local criticisms, the Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, condemned Wauquiez’s disrespect for Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon by suggesting it be used as a detention center: “Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is France, not a prison.” Several local officials, including deputy Stéphane Lenormand and the archipelago’s mayor, expressed their anger, emphasizing that the island is “not a dump for France.” Lenormand also described the proposal as “incompetence” and compared Wauquiez to Donald Trump. Even within the presidential camp, voices have been raised, such as former Minister for Overseas Territories, Annick Girardin, who called for public apologies.

Reactions from Elected Officials in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon

Local elected officials in the archipelago have voiced their outrage at this “outrageous” and “insulting” proposal. Jean-Marc Ruel, a senator from the region, condemned the idea of turning the island into a “detention camp for unwanted foreigners,” calling it both “unworthy” and “deeply shocking.” Others, like Bernard Briand, President of the Territorial Collectivity, harshly criticized Wauquiez, labeling him the “Donald Trump of Wish.” Briand also suggested that the deputy from Haute-Loire should consider hosting OQTF detainees in his own constituency.

A Proposal That Raises Questions and Divides Opinions

Beyond local and political reactions, Wauquiez’s proposal raises questions about the management of OQTFs. The deputy from Haute-Loire justifies his idea by claiming that the geographic isolation of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon would have a “deterrent effect.” However, this approach has been widely criticized for being coercive and dehumanizing. Wauquiez seems willing to risk damaging his political image in order to appeal to the more radical wing of his party, but this proposal could leave a lasting impact on the public debate.