France: Criteria to obtain citizenship eased

France's government will make the criteria to obtain French citizenship more flexible by eliminating, in particular, the obligation to have a permanent contract and a general culture test imposed by the right-wing administration of former president Nikolas Sarkozy. 'It is important to affirm the intention of a strong integration with the citizenship. We don't fear these new French citizens who represent a strength for the republic', Interior Minister Manuel Valls told reporters. Valls was born in Barcelona, Spain, and became a French citizen when he was 20. The minister said the new regulations will be transmitted 'in the next few days' to all prefects in the country. The document, he said, in particular scraps a test on 'French history, culture and society' promoted by Sarkozy, although 'the knowledge of French and the adhesion to the values' of the republic will remain among the conditions to become citizens. Other criteria, said the interior minister, will concern the number of years spent in France, 'family stability' and employment.