In a major setback for French President Emmanuel Macron, lawmakers have rejected his proposed overhaul of immigration, exposing his struggles to build coalitions in order to pass key legislation. On Monday, members from across the political spectrum voted to back a motion to dismiss, effectively blocking the draft law from reaching the floor for debate. This unexpected blow highlights Macron's challenges in pushing through his reform agenda and signals potential difficulties in the remaining years of his final mandate.
Macron's immigration bill aimed to facilitate the expulsion of undocumented migrants while also providing a path to legal status for undocumented workers in sectors facing recruitment struggles. However, without a majority in the National Assembly following last year's elections, Macron failed to create a coalition of support for the bill. This outcome raises doubts about his ability to enact significant legislation in the remaining three and a half years of his term.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who is considered a potential successor to Macron, was given the task of garnering support for the immigration bill. Speaking on TF1 television, Darmanin admitted to the failure and disclosed that Macron had rejected his offer of resignation. The president has requested proposals on how to proceed with the bill by Tuesday, indicating possible alternatives such as revisiting the version proposed by the Senate or assembling a committee of lawmakers to find a consensus.
A crucial factor in securing enough votes for the bill was the conservative Republicains party, but 40 out of their 62 lawmakers supported the motion to dismiss. Following the vote, party leader Eric Ciotti criticized Macron's proposal and called for stronger measures, including limitations on healthcare and emergency housing access for migrants. These demands were outlined in proposals made by the Republicains-controlled Senate.
The provision in the bill that received significant resistance from right-wing parties was the introduction of renewable one-year permits for certain undocumented workers. France heavily relies on migrant workers in industries such as hospitality, construction, healthcare, and transportation. A government study revealed that one in 10 jobs in the country is filled by an immigrant, with higher percentages in specific sectors. However, the high unemployment rate among migrants, which is twice that of the non-immigrant population, continues to be a concern.
On the left, opinion was divided, with Socialist lawmaker Boris Vallaud condemning the bill as a means to "police foreigners," while Mathilde Panot, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, called for Darmanin's resignation. In contrast, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, expressed plans to introduce her own bill aimed at facilitating the expulsion of what she refers to as "foreign delinquents."
Following the rejection of the bill, Le Pen described it as a significant disavowal for Macron's government, stating that they had neglected their lack of a majority. She emphasized that the vote demonstrated the government's minority status. The failed immigration overhaul highlights Macron's struggle to build sufficient support for his policy proposals and raises questions about the future success of his reform agenda.