Immigration law rejected: Paris relies on mediation committee
The previous evening, the National Assembly had unexpectedly voted by a narrow majority to reject the Senate's significantly tougher bill in its entirety. The motion was tabled by the Greens. For different reasons, both the left-wing and the right-wing populist opposition supported it.
This is a bitter defeat for Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and the government. However, Macron rejected his symbolic request to resign. The right-wing populist party leader Jordan Bardella demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly and new elections on Tuesday, which the government spokesperson immediately rejected.
Despite the failed bill,Darmanin called for "tough measures against irregular immigration" to be passed by the end of the year. He wanted to travel to Calais on Wednesday and meet security forces there who are fighting illegal immigration. Many migrants without the right to stay are staying on the coast of the English Channel in the hope of reaching the UK.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne accused the left-wing opposition of joining forces with the right-wing populists. "This is irresponsible and dangerous," she said. "We will continue to look for a compromise, as we have done for the more than 50 pieces of legislation that have been passed in the past 18 months," she said.
Macron had set the goal of passing a balanced immigration law that would both facilitate the deportation of rejected asylum seekers and promote the integration of working migrants. However, the right-wing majority in the Senate overturned a key article that would have granted the right to stay to migrants working in sectors with staff shortages.
This was the second attempt by the government to get the bill passed. In March, Prime Minister Borne had already admitted that there was no majority on the horizon.
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- In response to the rejected immigration law, Paris has turned to the Mediation Committee to find a way out.
- The rejection of the bill affects a significant number of migrants, creating uncertainties about their future in France.
- Gérald Darmanin, despite the setback, maintains that tough migration measures must be implemented by year-end.
- Following the rejection, Minister Elisabeth Borne called upon the opposition to collaborate in finding solutions, instead of aligning with right-wing populists.
- The Mediation Committee, composed of lawmakers and experts, is expected to play a crucial role in shaping a more balanced immigration law in accordance with Emmanuel Macron's vision.
- Olivier Véran, the French Health Minister, has also expressed concern, stating that the issue must be addressed responsibly to avoid causing further distress for migrants and fueling populist sentiments.
- The rejection of the immigration law by the National Assembly has put the spotlight on the ongoing challenges in crafting a law that both addresses security concerns and promotes integration for migrants in France.
Source: www.stern.de
