French legislators are set to decide today whether to truncate discussions on the government’s immigration bill, potentially sending the flagship legislation back for reconsideration. President Emmanuel Macron’s push for a stricter stance on law and order, while maintaining an open-door policy for foreign workers crucial to the economy, faces hurdles due to a lack of parliamentary majority.
With left-wing lawmakers opposing strict provisions and conservatives disapproving of liberal aspects, Macron finds himself in a delicate balancing act.
Opposition parties, like Les Republicains, feel the pressure to align with their historical positions on immigration but are wary of handing the government a political win.
The Green party aims to reject the bill even before lower house discussions begin, posing a challenge to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. Darmanin, eyeing the 2027 presidential vote, criticized such a move as a “denial of democracy.”
As the parliamentary session kicks off, a vote on the Green motion at 1500 GMT will determine the fate of the bill. If approved, debates on the plan’s substance will commence. Should the debate be halted, the government may opt to send it back to the Senate, where it has previously been approved and strengthened.
Alternately, a joint committee of senators and deputies could be established to seek a compromise. Despite uncertainties, the government asserts the bill’s necessity to streamline the expulsion of foreign criminals.
One contentious provision removes the ban on expelling migrants who arrived before the age of 13, citing the case of the alleged Russian-born Islamist militant responsible for killing a French teacher. Other debated aspects include the access of non-EU migrants to free medical coverage and the government’s push to legalize workers in industries facing labor shortages, such as cafes and restaurants.
The bill’s fate remains uncertain, as it could either fail, be amended, or proceed in the face of ongoing debates.
