French President Nicolas Sarkozy avoided a setback over his plan to impose DNA tests on immigrants after making concessions that were approved by the upper house of parliament today.
The bill, part of Mr Sarkozy's promised crackdown on illegal immigration, contains plans to demand DNA tests from immigrants seeking to join their family in France. It has provoked opposition from inside and outside Mr Sarkozy's centre-right bloc.
Fearing a parliament rebellion, Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux said the state would pick up the bill, not the families, and the tests would focus on the mother rather than the father to avoid paternity disputes. The tests will also have to be approved by a magistrate.
The bill will now return to the lower house for approval later this month and is likely to pass into law despite opposition criticism of the watered-down DNA rules.
"What we are doing is an error," said Robert Badinter, a Socialist senator. "The repercussions which this bill will have in Africa and in other countries will be completely negative."
But Prime Minister Francois Fillon said such DNA testing was already used in 12 European countries.
A survey published last month showed 74 per cent of voters were in favour of allowing immigrants' relatives to come to France only if they spoke French.