MPs reject stalling Macron government’s immigration bill

France’s parliament voted down the Macron government’s controversial immigration bill on December 11, reports Reuters. 

The proposed law was aimed at clamping down on those attempting to enter the French territory illegally, taking tough action and deporting those who had their asylum claims rejected as well as improving migrants’ integration as immigration is high on the political agenda in the country. 

The rejection of the bill was yet another setback for the struggling French President, who leads a minority government, as both the hard left and hard right voted against the draft law. 

The head of state’s party (Renaissance) lost its parliamentary majority in elections back in June 2022. Since Renaissance’s underwhelming polling last year, the government has frequently found itself unable to win votes in parliament. 

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Those on the left argued that the bill was aimed at toughening France’s stance on migration whereas those to the right of the government claimed that it was not tough enough. 

Following the government’s defeat, a rather embarrassed Gerald Darmanin, the country’s Interior Minister, offered to resign although the President was not in support of such move. 

Darmanin, 41, is seen by many as being a hardliner on immigration and cultural issues.  He even accused far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen of being “too soft” on Islam during a televised spar in 2021. 

Following the vote, Mrs Le Pen wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “By voting against the motion, we protected the French from a pro-immigration law that aimed to organise the accommodation of more and more immigrants. There was no question of that.” 

Left-wing firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, who led the socialist La France Insoumise, strongly criticised Macron and Darmanin, claiming, “The bill was rejected. But it is above all Macronism that has ended up frustrating all the opposition. The arrogant Darmanin has robbed everyone. The beginning of the end has begun.” 

Reuters/ The Telegraph