French parliament adopts toughened immigration law backed by far right
The French parliament has passed toughened immigration rules that saw President Emmanuel Macron face a major rebellion from within his own ruling party over support of the legislation by the far right.
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The bill was adopted late Tuesday by a large majority in the National Assembly after months of heated debate and delays. The ruling Renaissance parliamentary group did not, in the end, need the support of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (NR) to push it through.
Macron's victory leaves an uncomfortable divide within his party following accusations the government bowed to pressure from the far right.
While Le Pen endorsed the tightened immigration measures, key left-leaning members of Renaissance indicated they could no longer do so.
"The political crisis around the immigration bill is a moment of truth where all the fragilities of Emmanuel Macron's mandate are coming together," the Le Monde daily said in an editorial.
Rightwing daily Le Figaro said a letter of resignation from Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau had already been sent to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who did not say whether she would accept it.
Several other ministers also reportedly threatened to resign.
'Duty done'
“I have the feeling of duty being accomplished,” Borne told France Inter radio Wednesday morning – adding that she was still determined to block Le Pen.
“We don’t vote with the RN ... We respond to the concerns of the French; that’s how we fight the RN."
Borne come contents of the bill deemed unconstitutional would be referred to France's constitutional court.
While admitting the final version of the text was not what she had hoped for, Borne said the bill would allow the government to "move forward” on the issue.
Macron is to give a television interview on Wednesday evening to discuss key moments of 2023, including the new immigration rules – which were described as an "ideological victory" for the RN by three-time presidential candidate Le Pen.
A key element of the law is that social security benefits for foreigners will now be conditioned on five years of presence in France, or 30 months for those who have jobs.
Migration quotas can also now be agreed and there are measures for dual-national convicts being stripped of French nationality as well.
The RN had previously said it would vote against the bill or abstain. French media dubbed her surprise move a "kiss of death" for Macron's party.
Passing the legislation was critical for Macron, who cannot run again for president in 2027. Le Pen is widely expected to run.
(with newswires)
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