National Assembly of France voted for stripping of nationality for terrorists

National Assembly, the Lower House of the bicameral Parliament of France, on 9 February 2016 passed a proposal to amend the Constitution to strip people convicted of terrorist offences of their French nationality.

National Assembly voted by 162 to 148 to incorporate a passport-stripping clause into the Constitution, despite misgivings by some lawmakers that it is too extreme.

A follow-up vote is scheduled on 10 February 2016 in which the lower house is due to reaffirm the vote.

To change the constitution, the government's proposal will need approval by the upper house of parliament, the Senate, and then finally by both houses by a three-fifths majority.

Earlier on 9 February 2016, parliament overwhelmingly voted to extend the current state of emergency by another three months, giving police and security forces increased powers.

Background
French President Francois Hollande launched the long process to change in the Constitution after the 13 November 2015 Paris attacks by Islamic State terror group that killed 130 people.

The measure to strip terror convicts of French nationality has strong public support but has deeply divided Hollande's ruling Socialist Party.

Christiane Taubira resigned as justice minister in January 2016 over her opposition to it and Hollande's former Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has publicly condemned the amendment.

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