In France, a prefecture required proof of 'love for France' to obtain a residence permit
'Please write 30 lines about why you love France, and especially the prefecture of Essonne and its employees, and respect republican values,' read the message on the website. Below the text was a form where the necessary explanations could be entered.
As the prefecture told Franceinfo, the requirement to prove one's love for France appeared on the website on June 15. It was added to the form, which allows foreigners to request a residence permit online, by one of the employees. Authorities called the text 'inappropriate' and added that it was removed from the portal on June 19.
The prefecture clarified that the online application form was created by 'one police officer', who was given very little time to do it.
Lawyers interviewed by Franceinfo noted that French prefectures often request documents from foreigners that are not provided for by law, in order to slow down the processing of files and even refuse to issue documents.
Earlier, RFI reported that the French Court of Auditors recognized the country's immigration legislation as too complex and confusing. To submit documents to prefectures, one has to come 3-5 times, and migrants spend up to six hours in queues. 'France's migration policy does not correspond to its economic interests,' representatives of the country's highest financial control body noted.