Sarkozy faces choices over Roma dispute
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"Sarkozy can benefit from the clash with the European Commission considered as an ineffective organization, as a large slice of right electorate don't perceive the case in a negative way," the analyst said.
"Security is an important issue for people, plus, surveys showed that the presence of Roma in France is very badly perceived by the electorate. So, the issue of their repatriation does not weigh heavily on France's image in comparison with other daily matters," he added.
According to an opinion poll in August, 48 percent of French people backed the government's campaign to dismantle illegal camps and expel Roma migrants.
Roma numbered 15,000 in France, mostly from Romania and Bulgaria. More than 8,000 were repatriated voluntarily to their countries last year.
Data from the French Interior Ministry showed that the number of Roma people in France had dropped significantly.
Meanwhile, a survey indicated that 71 percent of French citizens believed that the image of the country had been tarnished after the French government dismantled illegal Roma camps and expelled them.
With recent decisions, Sarkozy is addressing national issues rather than regional ones in preparation for the coming elections in 2012, commented Jean-Daniel Levy, director of opinion research in CSA Institute.
"There is a focus not only on Roma but on economic policy and financial reforms which could create a real debate with neighbor countries," Levy told Xinhua.
Paris vowed to strengthen cooperation with Bucharest to facilitate Roma integration in Romania and France.
Both countries intensified diplomatic visits in order to work out concrete measures to help improve the life conditions of the traveling community.
Analysts said Sarkozy has to make a cautious choice between wooing support from voters at home or seeking EU's blessing.
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