French police stand in position near the National Assembly as protesters gather before the start of a debate on the immigration law in Paris, France, December 11, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
In a surprising turn of events on Monday, French lawmakers thwarted President Emmanuel Macron’s immigration bill, sending it back to the drawing board and dealing a setback to his attempts to pass laws without a majority. The rejection, which occurred on the first day of debates in the National Assembly, saw lawmakers from Marine Le Pen’s far-right party aligning with conservatives to adopt a motion proposed by the Greens, narrowly passing by a two-vote margin.
Despite the setback, the rejection does not necessitate the government’s resignation, and it does not mark the demise of the immigration bill. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who presented the bill before its rejection, offered to resign during a meeting with Macron. However, Macron opposed his resignation, instructing Darmanin and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to explore alternative avenues to advance the bill.
The government now faces several options, including sending the bill back to the upper house, convening a joint committee of senators and deputies to seek a compromise, or utilizing executive powers to push the bill through without a vote—a less likely scenario.
“I offered my resignation because it’s normal to do so when you fail. We will see what we decide. Tonight we will meet with the prime minister; the president asked us to submit him tomorrow the next step for the bill,” Darmanin conveyed in an interview with TF1.
Macron’s immigration bill has been a focal point of his efforts to demonstrate a tougher stance on law and order issues while maintaining an open-door policy for foreign workers to support the economy. However, lacking a parliamentary majority, Macron has encountered challenges in passing a bill with stringent measures opposed by left-wing lawmakers and more liberal aspects criticized by conservatives and the far right.
The government has framed the bill as crucial for expelling foreign criminals more efficiently. Notably, one provision removes the prohibition on expelling migrants who arrived in France before the age of 13—a point underscored by the case of the alleged Russian-born Islamist militant responsible for the killing of a French teacher in October.
Debates have also revolved around contentious issues, such as whether non-EU migrants should retain access to free medical coverage in France and the government’s objective to streamline the legalization process for workers in industries facing labor shortages, including cafes and restaurants. The political maneuvering and debates surrounding the immigration bill underscore the complex dynamics within French politics and the challenges faced by Macron in navigating diverse opinions to enact significant legislative reforms.
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