Dati argues that, contrary to the widespread belief that the poor only want to be financially assisted, the basic values of work and merit are also theirs: "Nicolas Sarkozy knew how to deal with the truth at a time when the general political discourse did not deal with what really matters: work, merit, authority and integration. He talked about France, about our identity and principles. See how many voted for Nicolas Sarkozy in the working-class neighborhoods. I know these neighborhoods. I lived in them. I spent my childhood and my youth in them. I knew that many there would adhere to this project. Never have the population of poor areas so eagerly yearned for truth and honesty. Never have they wanted so badly for us to stop speaking in their name, treating them differently, separating them from others. Never have they wanted so badly for us to talk to them about their problems, provided that we help them find solutions, that we suggest something new, deep, and true."
"Daring to place work at the core of our project, daring to give to those who have less, daring to implement affirmative action the French way… This is the dream of a more fraternal, united France, a France where no one is left on the side, where no one is ashamed of his/her name, skin color, neighborhood, or his/her parents' profession."
Actions as Newly Appointed Justice Minister: Minimum Mandatory Sentences for Repeat Offenders, €20 Million for Security of French Courts
After being named justice minister, Rachida Dati proposed a project of minimum sentences for repeat offenders. While maximum sentences are already in place, there are currently no mandatory minimum sentences - and enacting these was one of Sarkozy's campaign promises. The minimum sentences are to be established on the basis of a third of the regular sentence: For a crime entailing a 15 year prison sentence, such as rape, the minimum sentence will be 5 years. For murder, with a 30-year sentence, the minimum sentence will be 10 years. Juvenile offenders aged 16 to 18 will no longer benefit from sentences half as long as adults' in case of repeated offense.
In the Justice Ministry, judges expressed fear that this measure will fill up the already overcrowded prisons, even though under the project judges can still disregard the new sentencing guidelines "provided they explain why." Dati justifies the measures as follows: "I think inmates who leave prison and commit the same offenses again… must understand that there are limits that should not be exceeded."
On the other hand, Dati has said that she is considering setting up a British-style independent inspection committee to monitor conditions in France's much-criticized jails.
In addition, Dati decided to devote € 20 million to the security of French courts, after a judge was stabbed in Metz, France: Fathia Benzioua, a depressive drug addict, stabbed the judge after the court decided that her two-year-old son should be placed in the custody of his grandmother. Dati said: "It is impossible to implement justice in a calm environment in such complete insecurity. The fact that violence has become so common is unacceptable."
Reactions by Arab North Africans to Rachida Dati's Nomination
On blogs and websites, Rachida Dati was harshly criticized for supporting Sarkozy by writers identified as North African Arabs. Dati was even described as "North African on the outside, bigoted Caucasian on the inside." Another contributor wrote: "Ms. Dati's parents wouldn’t even have been allowed to enter France under Sarkozy’s proposed immigration policies, and that’s just one of the reasons I find her so hypocritical." [18]
Marwan Muhammad, a French Muslim of Egyptian and Algerian origin, sees Rachida Dati as a beneficiary of affirmative action: "Is Rachida Dati being played in Sarkozy's strategy to win over the support of the minorities? Sarkozy has for years supported the idea of affirmative action, which comes down to hiring minorities to balance the injustice caused by discrimination. It could be argued that minorities would like to be hired for their skills and not for the color of their skin, and that a more positive and fair option would be to pass laws preventing racial and religious discrimination, instead of counterbalancing one injustice with another. Dati is a typical example of this so-called affirmative action, as she was virtually nonexistent in the political game until January 2007 [Dati was appointed as Sarkozy's spokeswoman on January 14, 2007]."
A Dutch-Moroccan student reflected a more positive stance: "Rachida Dati, as an individual and immigrant-child [sic], has a complete right to agree with Sarkozy’s policies. And Sarkozy has a complete right to appoint her, without being accused of looking for a poster boy (girl)… It’s time we started realizing that not all (second-generation) immigrants are the same. That we don’t share the same values, even though we share the same background."
For its part, the Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly Online showed enthusiasm for the new justice minister: "Rachida Dati is a winning personality. France's new justice minister is a woman of substance. She refuses to be counted as a token Arab and Muslim in the French cabinet. Her gender, sophistication and cheerful nature set her apart. She is a Westernized Arab and Muslim woman who has discarded the Islamic hijab, and is not afraid or ashamed of wearing miniskirts and makeup. Her vivacious laughter, sparkling dark eyes and enchanting Maghrebi beauty is full of promise."
French Arab Justice Minister to Promote 'Renaissance' of Values of French Republic
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