The Macron administration introduces a contentious immigration bill in its Official Journal on Saturday, with the first instructions on enforcing the legislation already handed to authorities.
The law’s publication comes after France’s Constitutional Council censured 35 of its 86 provisions, including contentious additions relied on by the right, such as restrictions restricting access to social assistance and the implementation of immigration quotas.
While the bill was seen as one of the defining reforms of Macron’s second term, some in his camp had baulked at the tougher version, with nearly a quarter of his allies in parliament voting against it or abstaining.
About The Macron Administration Contentious Immigration Bill
An article on the regularisation of undocumented workers in industries facing shortages was also kept in the text.
After the Constitutional Council’s decision, Macron had called on Darmanin to do “everything in his power” to “implement the immigration law as quickly as possible”, a member of the president’s staff told AFP.
Darmanin, who had earlier argued several policies were “clearly contrary to the constitution”, welcomed the council’s verdict as a success for the government.
The verdict, however, provoked condemnation from the right, with Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, denouncing what he called a “coup by the judges, with the backing of the president” in a post on social networking site X.
He asked for a referendum on immigration as the “only solution”.
The president of the conservative Republicans, Eric Ciotti, accused the council of cooperating with Macron against the “will of the French people, who want less immigration”.
Only three of the articles censured by the council were rejected based on their substance, with the remainder tossed out because they were found to be outside the ambit of the law.
As such, nothing prohibits parliament from voting on them again later as part of different legislation.
But Interior Minister Darmanin poured cold water on the likelihood of new legislation, stating that the executive “will not present a bill”.
The Barron’s news department was not involved in preparing the content above. AFP produced this item. While the bill was seen as one of the defining reforms of Macron’s second term, some in his camp had baulked at the tougher version, with nearly a quarter of his allies in parliament voting against it or abstaining.
The final document upheld by the council preserves major aspects initially wanted by the administration, with a large part dedicated to simplifying procedures for expelling delinquent foreigners, one of the aims of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
Effect Of The Macron Administration Contentious Immigration Bill
While the bill was seen as one of the defining reforms of Macron’s second term, some in his camp had baulked at the tougher version, with nearly a quarter of his allies in parliament voting against it or abstaining.
The final document upheld by the council preserves major aspects initially wanted by the administration, with a large part dedicated to simplifying procedures for expelling delinquent foreigners, one of the aims of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
The administration of French President Emmanuel Macron issued the formal text of a new immigration law in its Official Journal on Saturday, with the first instructions on enforcing the legislation already handed to authorities.