A new French hero

A fanastic rescue by someone who seems to have been a real climber - and fast with it!
2 questions come to mind:
1. How did the child come to be hanging on to the railing like that?
2. Who was the person on the balcony next to the little person trying to grab him?

Apparently the mother was away and the father went out. The person on the next balcony could not reach him safely because of a glass partition. I have read that the child is now in care.
It was a wonderful act of bravery and I am very impressed by Macron's actions. It doesn't mean that gaining French citizenship is easy though.

I was shocked to hear that Viktor Orban's right wing populist government in Hungary is proposing to make it illegal to help refugees by giving them food, water or any other aid, even giving them advice could be illegal"!

The BBC News reprted "The Hungarian government has drafted new laws to criminalise those who help irregular migrants seeking asylum.If passed in its current form, the legislation could make printing leaflets with information for asylum-seekers and offering them food or legal advice a criminal offence.

The constitution will also be amended to prevent other EU countries from transferring asylum seekers to Hungary. Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban is defying EU policy on migration.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44288242

Let's hope that no Hungarian child hanging from a balcony dies because there is no brave refugee to come to his aid!

I know usually bureaucracy in France is slow, but they are quick to organise awards for those who have shown bravery. There was the case a couple of years ago where some American soldiers stopped a terrorist on a train, they were given the Legion d'honneur (sp?) or some other national award within a few days. I am sorry, but our system doesn't respond with the same speed to such acts of bravery. This isn't UK bashing just saying it is a difference and is worth commenting on.

I don't know for certain, but is that perhaps because bravery awards in the UK are made after a process of recommendation to the Queen and the President can award them himself?

The Malian refugee has papers allowing him to work in Italy but did not want to live there -it could well be that French is his language.
I saw today that the child fell from the balcony above and managed to cling on to the next balcony as he fell. His father has been charged with some form of neglect allowing him to be able to do that - his mother is due back from Reunion today.

I do not want to take away from this act of bravery. And I am basically pro-immigrant, as my own family were refugees who came to the UK. But will this prompt a surge of brave acts that will result in the protagonists getting the right of stay in whatever country? Let´s watch the news. My point is that there should be definite guidelines under which someone should qualify for political asylum. Picking out individuals who are given preference will only lead to lots of scams.

Its going to be hard to set up a toddler clinging onto a balcony or person risking their life in a terrorist attack. I somehow doubt there will be a spate of people risking their lives to get their asylum status speeded up.

A brave act appropriately rewarded for Mamoudzou Gassam's, facilitated citizenship and an offer of work.
Well done Macron. Although one could take the cynical view, and wonder if the speed of Macrons actions in recognizing and publicly rewarding Mamoudzou Gassams bravery, have something to do with the unpopular French bill on immigration, and Macrons personal popularity and approval ratings being at their lowest point since being elected to office.

Frances new immigration law:
“The [immigration] bill aims to both cut waiting times for asylum applications -- from around a year currently to six months -- and make it easier to deport those turned down as "economic" migrants.

The right-wing opposition say the bill is too soft but left-wing parties and NGOs have branded it repressive.

"We cannot take on the misery of the world," Macron, who campaigned as a champion of open borders but has adopted a tough line on migration since
taking office, said in an interview with BFMTV on Sunday.”
www.thelocal.fr/20180416/whats-wrong-frances-new-immigration-law-according-to-rights-groups

“Macron’s approval ratings hit record low: poll
Voters think French president is launching ‘too many reforms,’ according to new survey.
By MAXIME SCHLEE
3/23/18
Updated 3/23/18, 4:41 PM CET
French President Emmanuel Macron has seen his popularity slip to its lowest point since he took office, according to a new opinion poll published Friday.
Only 40 percent of the French population said they have a favorable opinion of Macron, a drop of 3 percentage points from last month and 12 percentage points from December, while 57 percent said they hold a negative opinion of the president.
Macron’s approval ratings, 10 months into his term, are comparable to those of former presidents François Hollande (35 percent) and Nicolas Sarkozy (40 percent), according to the poll conducted by BVA, which surveyed 1,053 people on March 21 and 22.
The poll noted that support for Macron has decreased most significantly in low-income households — where only 21 percent hold a positive opinion of Macron — and among voters under 35, among other demographics. His approval ratings slipped below 50 percent for the first time among voters above 65, the poll also found.
Among those who said they were disappointed in Macron’s performance, many reiterate the idea he was “too arrogant” and a “president for the wealthy.” A growing number of people also said they think Macron is launching “too many reforms,” the poll found.
On Thursday, tens of thousands of public sector workers went on strike across the country to protest Macron’s planned reforms, which are part of a plan to cut state costs.
Macron’s prime minister, Edouard Philippe, also saw his approval ratings drop, with 43 percent saying they see him in a favorable light — a drop of 9 percent since December — and 54 saying they have a negative opinion of him.”
www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-france-approval-ratings-hit-record-low-poll/

Again, much praise for such a fine example of instinctive bravery by Mamoudzou Gassam. Putting that childs safety before his own, outstanding.

Though I have to agree with Dannirae why does this turn into an "opportunity to knock this country"?

Also Baggs and mamie are correct Occams Razor does not apply here.
“Occams's razor:
In philosophy, a razor is a principle or rule of thumb that allows one to eliminate ("shave off") unlikely explanations for a phenomenon. Razors include: Occam's razor: When faced with competing hypotheses, select the one that makes the fewest assumptions and is thus most open to being tested.”
Pasted.

Gerispringer Tue 29-May-18 14:01:52
"This isn't UK bashing just saying it is a difference and is worth commenting on."

Why compare France and the UK on this award and reward by Macron for Mamoudzou Gassam's act of bravery at all. The comparison is unnecessary and does not add to the topic in anyway.
Why do it?