Under current French law, citizenship revocation can only be applied to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French-born, and the procedure is rarely implemented.

The new rules would extend it to all dual nationals, but cannot be applied to people who are only French citizens, as France’s obligations under international law prevent it from leaving a person stateless.

Opponents of the measure consider it would create two classes of citizens – dual nationals who could lose their citizenship and others who cannot – in opposition to the principle of equality set out in France’s constitution.

French authorities have not said how many of those arrested over the Paris attacks are dual nationals.