'Germany made a grave mistake' French PM says Merkel's open-door immigration was 'wrong'
ANGELA Merkel has been blasted by France's Prime Minister who said she was "wrong" to take in hundreds of thousands of migrants.
France's PM has said Angela Merkel was 'wrong' to take in so many migrants
Manuel Valls said France's "strict" immigration policy was far more efficient than the German Chancellor's approach to immigration.
The 54-year-old said government officials were right to tighten immigration laws and step up border controls to stem the tide of migrants streaming into France last year.
He said: "Angela Merkel was wrong to take in hundreds of thousands of refugees. It's not even an option for France, we simply wouldn't cope.
"We will take in as many migrants as we possibly can, but not that many. And we will look after the people we welcome well."
France's socialist Prime Minister also vowed the 'Jungle' migrants will become full-fledged members of society and would learn to speak fluent French.
The prediction comes less than one week after the destruction of the infamous Calais refugee camp.
Manuel Valls said France's immigration policy was far more efficient than the German's approach
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He said: "'Jungle' migrants will apply for asylum and they will become French. And, in time, they will come to cherish French values. Some may even become government officials."
We will take in as many migrants as we possibly can, but not that many
Mr Valls also admitted that the sprawling Calais shanty town had been a constant "headache".
He added: "Migrants feel welcome in France and are willing to embrace our country's values and traditions."
The 54-year-old said government officials were right to tighten immigration laws
Britain is often seen an 'island of hope' for migrants, but in the meantime, many say that France is the "next best option."
This includes Noor, a 27-year-old former 'Jungle' resident from Afghanistan, who now lives in a reception centre in Noyon, a town located a short distance from Calais.
It is less than one week since the destruction of the infamous Calais refugee camp
He told the French daily Le Parisien: "I'm happy in France. I love it here and I love the culture. Bulgaria was my 'first safe country' - that's where I was registered when I first stepped foot on EU soil, but I have no desire to go back there."