A group of French lawmakers on Tuesday discussed a controversial bill that would tighten France’s immigration laws and highlight the difficulties President Emmanuel Macron faces in governing the country without a majority in parliament, Reuters reports.
The French government had initially said it would be a “carrot and stick” law that would make it easier for migrants working in labour-starved sectors to obtain residence permits, but would also make it easier to expel irregular migrants.
However, lacking a majority in the lower house of parliament after the June 2022 elections and seeking right-wing support, the government has gradually agreed to soften measures aimed at granting residence permits to some migrants, as well as tightening access to social security.
EU lawmaker Jordan Bardella, who leads the Rassemblement Nationale, said tougher immigration laws were an “ideological victory” for his party, characterising negotiations that Macron supporters disagree with. Some lawmakers said Tuesday’s special committee meeting was on its way to an agreement. Pierre-Henri Dumont from the conservative Les Republicains said:
“It seems there is a deal.”
Even if an agreement is reached during the special committee meeting, it remains to be seen whether Macron’s left-wing majority, which has expressed concerns about some of the more conservative aspects of the bill, will approve a compromise when both houses of parliament vote later Tuesday.
