The candidate of the French right-wing presidential elections Francois Fillon will refuse, if defeated, to welcome more refugees, despite Germany's calls for solidarity, warned a close associate of Bruno Le Mer.
"A president Fillon would not accept more refugees than those who are in the current proportions, because France is not politically and financially able to do so," said Le Mer, responsible for European and international issues in the election team campaign of the candidate, in an interview published today by the German newspaper Bild.
Asked whether France could make an effort in this area in the direction of Germany wishes to see further solidarity of its European partners, Le Mer replied: "Under no circumstances."
During the first eleven months of 2016, France recorded nearly 78,000 asylum applications, the number increased by 10% compared with the same period last year.
Throughout 2016, the German side welcomed 280,000 new asylum seekers, after a record 890,000 had greeted in 2015 when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the country's doors to immigrants, many of whom were fleeing the war in Syria.
