In the end, France made the selection, even though it did not use the term "residual cargo": for 123 of the 234 migrants on board the Ocean Viking, the "refusal of entry" was triggered .
Instead, 26 minors have already disappeared - also disembarked from the Sos Mediterranee ship - who were housed in a reception center in the south of the country.
Macron's entourage returns to accuse the Italian government in relation to the affair: " A bad gesture, but the important thing is not to stop here and continue cooperation ". And the right attacks, with Marine Le Pen speaking of a government "humiliated by the flight of 26 minors".
After landing in Toulon, the 234 migrants were taken to a holiday village in the department of Var, in the south of France, transformed into an extraterritorial "waiting centre" from which, at least in theory, they could not have left. The 189 adults were all questioned by the Office for the Protection of Refugees (Ofpra), which refused access to French territory to 123. Instead, 66 people were admitted, but it seems that only 12 remained inside the center.
" The people who landed in Toulon - specifies the Elysée - will be deducted from the number we welcome this year in solidarity with Italy ". However, a sign of de-escalation after Minister Darmanin's announcement of the total suspension of reception. Another aspect of the story that needs to be clarified, the voluntary mechanism had so far led to the transfer of only 38 asylum seekers to France. A pittance.
(Unioneonline/L)
