PARIS: The French government, led by President Emmanuel Macron, formally published the text of a new immigration law in the Official Journal on Saturday, following the censure of 35 out of 86 articles by France’s Constitutional Council.
The law includes measures aimed at simplifying procedures for expelling delinquent foreigners, a key objective of Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin.
However, contentious additions proposed by the right, such as restrictions on access to social benefits and the introduction of immigration quotas, were among the censured articles.
Macron called on Darmanin to swiftly implement the remaining provisions after the council’s decision, emphasizing the importance of the immigration law.
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The ruling sparked criticism from the right, with calls for a referendum on immigration. Only three of the censured articles were rejected based on content, while the others were deemed outside the law’s scope, allowing for the possibility of revisiting them in future legislation.
The law’s publication comes after Macron’s team urged Darmanin to expedite its implementation, despite the Constitutional Council’s decision. The final text retains elements desired by the government, with a focus on deportations and the regularization of undocumented workers in industries facing shortages.
While Darmanin celebrated the ruling as a win for the government, critics, including far-right leader Jordan Bardella and conservative Republicans President Eric Ciotti, accused the council of collaborating with Macron against the will of the French people. The head of the far-left LFI party, Manuel Bompard, called for the law’s withdrawal, stating that the validated text corresponds to the version rejected by the Assembly and lacks legitimacy. Despite calls for resubmitting a conforming text, Darmanin dismissed the possibility of presenting a new bill on the subject.
