French politicians appeared split over government plans to extend emergency powers until May and to amend the constitution to strip French citizenship from those convicted of terrorism, reports Deutsche Welle.
The lower house of parliament debated the controversial plans on Friday in the wake of the deadly terror attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead in November.
Under the proposals, those convicted of crimes constituting a "serious attack on the life of the nation" could be stripped of their French citizenship.
Most of the attackers in the November 13 coordinated assaults held French or Belgian citizenship, and some also Moroccan nationals.
The plans have divided French President François Hollande's Socialist party, despite promises by Valls to remove a divisive part of the draft text, which includes reference to people holding dual-nationality.
The government is now calling for a three-month extension of the state of emergency, which was scheduled to end on Feb. 26.
Valls also defended the powers given to authorities under the state of emergency, which make it easier to increase security measures. He said the powers had allowed authorities to disrupt terrorist networks.
"The state of emergency is efficient, indispensable," he said in a speech to lawmakers. "[Terrorist] networks are destabilized, numerous individuals are being watched."
Read more of this report from Deutsche Welle.
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