France’s Immigration Bill Passes Despite Macron Party’s Rebellion

The French parliament approved an immigration bill supported by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, despite a significant rebellion within his own party regarding the far right’s endorsement of the toughened-up legislation.

The lower house voted in favor of the legislation with a large majority, ultimately not requiring the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) to push it through.

Several amendments have further tightened the immigration measures from the bill’s original submission, leading to accusations from the left that the government caved in to pressure from the far right.

While Le Pen endorsed the strengthened bill, key left-leaning members of Macron’s Renaissance Party and allied factions indicated their withdrawal of support. Additionally, several ministers reportedly threatened to resign.

Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate and leader of the RN’s lawmakers in parliament, remarked, “We can rejoice in ideological progress, an ideological victory even for the National Rally since this is now enshrined into law as a national priority.”

The bill, which had been previously rejected without discussion in the National Assembly, had faced opposition. However, it eventually passed with 349 in favor and 186 against in the lower house after previously being approved by the upper-house Senate.

A significant element of the law is the requirement that social security benefits for foreigners will now be conditional on five years of residence in France or 30 months for those who are employed. Additionally, migration quotas can be agreed upon, and there are provisions for dual-national convicts to be stripped of French nationality.

The severity of the situation was evident when Macron called a meeting of his ruling party at the Elysee palace before the vote, emphasizing that he would submit the bill for a new reading rather than promulgate it if it were to be passed solely with support from Le Pen’s RN.

Concerns were raised by Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau, Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau, and Housing Minister Patrice Vergriete, who met with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and warned of their potential resignation.

“The majority has stood together, the far right’s plan has failed,” remarked Borne on social media platform X after the vote. The situation grew even more serious as Rousseau delivered a letter of resignation to Borne, prompting uncertainty over whether it would be accepted.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, the driving force behind the legislation, had previously warned of the risk of Le Pen winning the 2027 presidential election if the bill was not passed.

The left and hard-left had reacted with horror to the prospect of the legislation being passed, with Boris Vallaud, the head of Socialist lawmakers in the National Assembly, calling it a “great moment of dishonor for the government.”

For Macron, the passage of the legislation was crucial as he cannot seek re-election in 2027 after two consecutive terms, and he risks being perceived as a lame duck despite having more than three years left of his term. The government has not held a majority in parliament since the legislative elections following his 2022 re-election.

AFP