Letters: France needs more immigration to help its ageing population
Connexion reader disagrees with Simon Heffer calling it a problem
Decreasing France's level of immigration is a priority for the far-right Rassemblement National
Bartolomiej Pietrzyk / Shutterstock
To the Editor,
In his article suggesting France's only way forward is for President Macron to resign, Simon Heffer, like many journalists and politicians, does not connect all the dots.
He lists a number of problems, including the "problem of illegal migration”. But immigration is not a “problem”, it is a solution.
The French population is ageing (as is the case also in Germany and the UK), so as more and more retire there are not enough people to take their place at work.
Health workers, doctors, accountants, maths teachers, these are just some of the professions facing a labour shortage.
There are three possible solutions: 1, produce more babies; 2, work longer; or 3, accept more immigrants, provided they are young enough to work.
For obvious reasons no. 1 cannot be imposed. Moreover, people are feeling the pinch and are having children at a later age, if at all. In any case, we would have to wait 20 years to see any economic benefit.
Read more: Comment: Death of Rassemblement National founder helps detoxify French far right
No. 2 is deeply unpopular, as past protests have shown.
This leaves no. 3, which to many may seem a necessary evil if no. 2 is to be avoided.
However, politicians lack the courage to get voters to face the facts.
So, too many people think they can have their cake and eat it, that they can retire earlier while also stemming the tide of immigrants who could fill the vacancies and keep the economy going.
It is time for some honest talk.
James Chater, by email
Read more: Immigration: Children born in France to foreign parents may not have automatic nationality
Simon Heffer replies: Sadly, a vast number of French people – and not merely journalists and politicians – do not see mass migration as an answer.
They see it, first and foremost, as an erosion of French culture.
In a democracy - such as France purports to be - any politician who seeks to govern contrary to that feeling is doomed.
However, the main reason Mr Macron may be better off resigning is the spectacle of his getting through prime ministers almost as fast as he changes his underwear.
Mr Bayrou already seems not long for this world, and if Mr Macron gets through many more premiers, his own credibility, already low, will evaporate altogether.
How do you feel about immigration in France? Have you encountered many people opposed to immigrants? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com
