Paris, France – The French parliament has successfully passed an immigration bill despite a significant rebellion within President Emmanuel Macron’s own party. The legislation, which was ultimately approved by a wide majority in the lower house, faced opposition from key left-leaning members of Macron’s Renaissance Party and allied factions. The measure received additional amendments that further tightened immigration rules, leading the left to criticize the government for bowing to pressure from the far right. Despite the rebellion, Macron’s party did not require the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) to push the bill through.
Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate and leader of the RN lawmakers in parliament, endorsed the strengthened bill. Although the RN had previously stated it would vote against the legislation or abstain, Le Pen’s endorsement surprised many and was dubbed a kiss of death for Macron’s party by French media. The passage of the bill also marks a significant moment for the RN, as Le Pen remarked, We can rejoice in ideological progress, an ideological victory even for the National Rally, since this is now enshrined into law as a national priority.
Prior to its successful passage, the immigration bill had suffered a major setback when it was voted down without debate in the National Assembly. The legislation had already been approved by the upper-house Senate before going through the lower house. The final vote tallied 349 in favor and 186 against.
One key aspect of the law is the conditioning of social security benefits for foreigners on five years of presence in France, or 30 months for those with employment. The bill also allows for the agreement of migration quotas and includes provisions for stripping dual-national convicts of French nationality.
The rebellion within Macron’s party intensified the gravity of the situation, prompting the president to hold a meeting with his ruling party ahead of the vote. Macron indicated that if the bill were only passed with the help of RN votes, he would submit it to a new reading instead of promulgating it. In response to the passage of the bill, Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau, Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau, and Housing Minister Patrice Vergriete met with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and warned of potential resignations.
Despite the controversy surrounding the legislation, Borne stated, The majority has stood together, the far right’s plan has failed. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who played a key role in spearheading the legislation, had previously cautioned that the failure to pass the bill could potentially result in Le Pen winning the 2027 presidential election.
The passage of the immigration bill holds significant importance for Macron, as he is unable to run for re-election in 2027 after serving two consecutive terms. Failing to pass the bill could have cemented his reputation as a lame duck with over three years remaining in his term. The government has lacked a parliamentary majority since the legislative elections following Macron’s re-election in 2022.
The controversial nature of the legislation has sparked outrage among dozens of NGOs, who argue that it represents the most regressive immigration law in decades. Around 50 groups, including the French Human Rights League, issued a joint statement decrying the bill for its potential impact on the rights and living conditions of foreigners in France. French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel described the legislation as a shift against the republic’s fundamental values and directly inspired by RN anti-immigration rhetoric.
As the immigration bill faced passage, its significance extended beyond the specific policy implications to the fragility of Macron’s presidency. The Le Monde daily referred to the political crisis as a moment of truth, bringing together the various vulnerabilities of Macron’s mandate.
With the successful passage of the immigration bill, the French government has solidified stricter immigration rules that have drawn both support and condemnation from various factions within the country. The enduring impact of this legislation will be closely monitored as France navigates its immigration policies in the years to come.
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