French Justice Minister resigns in the middle of terrorism strife

BBC

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira has stepped down from her job, shortly before MPs are due to debate plans to strip people convicted of terrorism of their citizenship.

Ms Taubira was known to disagree with the controversial proposals,

The citizenship plans were put forward after the 13 November Paris attacks in which 130 people were murdered.

“Sometimes staying on is resisting, sometimes resisting means leaving,” she tweeted.

Ms Taubira, one of France’s few senior black politicians, has been replaced by Jean-Jacques Urvoas who is seen as a supporter of the constitutional change.

A communique from the Elysee Palace said that President Francois Hollande had accepted the justice minister’s decision to resign.

“They agreed on the need to bring her role to an end at a time when debate on constitutional revision begins in the National Assembly, today,” the statement read.

President Hollande also praised her part in pushing through same-sex marriage laws.