France is in turmoil after the adoption of a tough new immigration law, sparking rebellion within President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party and highlighting the delicate balance he faces with his second-term policies.
The legislation, a flagship reform of Macron’s second term, was approved Tuesday after 18 months of political bickering.
Notably, it garnered the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, leading some to dub it a “kiss of death” for the bill.
Around a quarter of Macron’s 251 lawmakers voted against or abstained, and several left-wing ministers, including Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau, resigned in protest. Despite rumors of further ministerial resignations, government spokesperson Olivier Veran denied a “ministerial revolt.”
Macron addressed the controversy Wednesday evening, defending the law as “useful and effective” and aimed at “better integrating those we choose to welcome.”
However, he acknowledged potential unconstitutionality in some provisions, stating that the law would be revised after review by the Constitutional Council.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the legislation was enacted without relying on Le Pen’s party.
Yet, the move is widely seen as a concession to the right, prompting accusations that Macron is pandering to the far right.
The left-wing newspaper Liberation branded the law a “moral defeat” for Macron’s party, further amplifying the discontent. Critics, including dozens of NGOs, decry the law as potentially the “most regressive” in decades, citing measures like conditioning social security benefits on residency and stripping dual-national convicts of French nationality.
France’s long tradition of welcoming refugees and immigrants is now facing a stark challenge. Rising asylum seeker numbers, housing shortages, and economic anxieties have fueled social tensions, creating a complex backdrop for Macron’s efforts to navigate immigration policy.
The recent events expose the deep divisions within Macron’s party and raise questions about his ability to reconcile competing demands.
For Macron, balancing security concerns with humanitarian values will be a crucial test for his presidency in the months and years to come.
