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> If Snowden set foot on French territory, he would be sent back to the US in a matter of days.

That's false. There are a number of reasons in which France does not extradite to ally countries. For example, some italian terrorist have political asylum since 30 years (look for Marina Petrella). For example, if death penalty is possible, there will be no extradition.

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I looked it up and it appears that Marina Petrella was protected under the Mitterand Doctrine [1], which was a sort of witness protection program. I doubt this would apply to Snowden.

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitterrand_doctrine

The US has an extradition treaty with France since 2010.

and with Italy since much longer. Marina Petrella is still in France.

I assumed the terrorists and child rapist were "grandfathered in" and the extradition treaty change didn't apply to people already in the country. But you are probably right and Hollande would not extradite Snowden. Sarkozy would have sent him back, though.

In the extradition treaty France can't automatically extrade someone for political reason.

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