French Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau resigned on Wednesday following parliament’s approval of a new immigration law that strengthens the ability to deport foreigners deemed undesirable and has been the subject of intense debate.
The resignation was announced by French government spokesman Olivier Véran, adding that Aurélien Rousseau will be replaced on an interim basis by the current minister delegate responsible for healthcare professions, Agnès Firmin Le Bodo.
“There is no movement of ministerial revolt,” assured Olivier Véran during the ‘briefing’ of the Council of Ministers last Wednesday, in which Aurélien Rousseau no longer participated.
The Minister of Health handed his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of the Élysée, Alexis Kohler, and communicated it by telephone to the Prime Minister, whose chief of staff he was.
Aurélien Rousseau had already expressed her opposition last summer to the version of the immigration law, which was significantly tightened by the far right.
Like Rousseau, several ministers who were unfavorable to the bill, such as Clément Beaune (Minister of Transport) or Sylvie Retailleau (of Higher Education), were received on Tuesday evening at the Hotel Matignon, the prime minister’s official residence, he said. French media.
The immigration bill, which had already been approved by the Senate, was approved this morning in the House of Commons, the National Assembly, with 349 votes in favor and 186 against.
The legislation strengthens the ability to deport foreigners deemed undesirable and has been heavily criticized by human rights groups for its potential to separate migrant families.
The project allows authorities to issue an order for a migrant to leave French territory, even if the person falls into a category protected by existing legislation.
The existing protection covers personal and family situations, such as people who arrived in France before the age of 13, have a long-term residence in France or are the spouse or parent of a French citizen.
The law will allow authorities to ignore these protection measures if the foreigner’s behavior is considered “a serious threat to public order,” although the bill does not explain what constitutes a “serious threat” and “public order” .
The French presidency announced today that Emmanuel Macron will submit the bill to the Constitutional Council, the body responsible for overseeing the application of the constitution in France.
Source: DN
