The French parliament approved a bill on immigration, one of President Emmanuel Macron’s flagship initiatives, in the early hours of Wednesday, sparking a heated internal debate, especially since the far right decided to back the measure. Marine Le Pen has taken advantage of this support and Macron’s difficulties, saying the National Rally had achieved “an ideological victory”. At the end of the day, the French president broke his silence and said the diploma was “the shield we were missing.” He acknowledged that it is a text that has been “tightened” by the Senate, but that it will not prevent the country from continuing to welcome migrants, although he conceded: “We have real immigration problems.”
This diploma strengthens the ability to deport foreigners deemed undesirable and has been heavily criticized by human rights groups for its ability to separate migrant families. Authorities will also be allowed to issue an expulsion order from French territory for any migrant, even if they fall into a category protected by existing law.
Currently, existing protections cover 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 new 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.” to hear.
The bill, which had already been approved by the Senate, was approved in the National Assembly in the early morning hours by 349 votes in favor to 186 against, with about a quarter of deputies from Macron’s coalition voting against or abstaining. . It should be remembered that this vote took place only after an agreement between parliamentarians of the centrist majority, Macron, and the conservative party The Republicans.
According to French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, the text of the bill contains “useful and efficient provisions” and which, as added by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, will allow the government to “show more firmness against foreign offenders.” . Yet Borne has also admitted that the bill still needs to ‘evolve’ and that he considers parts of the bill to be unconstitutional.
This Wednesday evening, Macron confirmed that he will submit the diploma to the Constitutional Council because, he said, “I think there are provisions that are not in accordance with our Constitution.” And he guaranteed that no ideas from the National Assembly would be adopted, saying there is no “ideological victory” for the far right.
The French president also rejected the idea of a split in his party, following the negative vote of some of his deputies and the resignation of the health minister.
Hours earlier, government spokesman Olivier Véran had already denied the existence of an “uprising.” But the truth is that the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, who had already made it clear in the summer that he did not agree with the diploma, resigned this Wednesday. And like Rousseau, several ministers unfavorable to the bill, such as Clément Beaune (Transport) or Sylvie Retailleau (Higher Education), were received on Tuesday evening at the Prime Minister’s official residence, although at the end of this edition no others had left the government .
Source: DN
