The French lower house of parliament will on Monday continue debating a bill seeking to tighten immigration rules criticised by both the far-right and hard-left in what will be a major test for the government of President Emmanuel Macron.
Speaking during a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Sunday, Macron said that neglecting human rights would be a "mistake."
As the debate on the immigration bill continues in the National Assembly this week, Macron lauded the right of asylum, saying it supports "all those who defend human rights every day."
Meanwhile, MPs are being asked to vote on a rejection motion put forward earlier by the Greens.
If this motion is supported by the entire opposition, including the left, the right-wing National Rally (RN), and conservative Republicans (LR), a debate will not take place, and the text will be sent back to the Senate.
Il y a 75 ans à Paris fut adopté un texte qui héritait d’une longue tradition des Lumières, et l’élargissait aux dimensions du monde : la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’Homme. pic.twitter.com/qxQxqGjbks
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 10, 2023
"France maintains its long tradition of asylum for those whose rights are threatened in their countries, and we will continue to defend this right of asylum," Macron said, speaking from the Palais de Chaillot where the 1948 Declaration was drafted.
"It protects freedom fighters and was conceived after World War II when many stateless individuals roamed Europe".
"Denial of democracy"
"It would be a denial of democracy not to debate immigration," Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told CNews on Monday morning, saying that if all opponents vote in favour of the rejection motion, it will be "mathematically" adopted.
"This afternoon, it would be unimaginable not to debate! It is up to us to find the way to go to the vote because this text is useful for our fellow citizens," President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, wrote on X.
Sur le projet de loi immigration qui débute en séance publique à l’@AssembleeNat cet après-midi, il serait inimaginable de ne pas débattre ! C’est à nous de trouver le chemin pour aller jusqu’au vote, car ce texte est utile pour nos compatriotes. #RTLMatin pic.twitter.com/ssoGgZbzDr
— Yaël Braun-Pivet (@YaelBRAUNPIVET) December 11, 2023
Marine Le Pen's hard right National Rally, with 88 deputies, says it will vote against the text, stating that its policies are not ambitious enough.
To adopt the bill, Macron's Renaissance party would need support of the centre and the Republicans, whose 62 deputies are divided.
The main points of disagreement include State Medical Aid for undocumented foreigners present in the country for over three months and the regularisation of foreign workers in high-demand sectors such as catering and construction.
There is also the question of the powers of the police prefect, who could oppose issuing residence permits in case of a threat to public order, non-compliance with the values of the Republic, or polygamy.
Finally, there is the issue of the creation of a national file for unaccompanied delinquent minors.
France's Senate on 14 November initially passed the bill, toughening the language and measures of the legislation in a manner that was bound to complicate the government's search for compromise in the lower house.
Originally proposed by the government with a mix of steps to expel more undocumented people and improve integration, the text – voted through by 210 to 115 – now leans firmly towards enforcement after its passage through the Senate, which is controlled by the right.
(With newsagencies)
