A majority of lawmakers in the National Assembly adopted a motion to reject the government’s proposed immigration bill on Monday night, cutting short debate on the legislation that sought to balance Macron’s need to show he can be tough on law and order issues while keeping France’s doors open to foreign workers vital to keeping the economy humming.
After passing the right-wing controlled Senate, the bill leaned towards enforcement, with an annual quota for the number of arrivals to be set by parliament.
It would have speeded up asylum procedures and granted legal status to undocumented workers in sectors with labour shortages, but it would also have made it easier to deport foreigners deemed dangerous.
One provision would have lifted the ban on deporting foreigners who arrived in France before the age of 13, as was the case with the radicalised Russian-born young man who killed a French teacher in October.
Right joins Greens in rejecting bill
Lawmakers ignored Darmanin’s plea not to vote on the Greens-sponsored motion to reject the bill and voted 270 to 265, including members of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and many from the conservative Les Republicains party.
The move halted debate on the 2,6000 amendments proposed and forced the government to reconsider.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne held an emergency meeting late on Monday with several ministers and the leaders of the National Assembly groups that support the government, which lacks the absolute majority to pass legislation on its own.
Darmanin to stay in government
Earlier, Macron rejected Darmanin’s offer to resign and reportedly asked him to come up with proposals to break the deadlock and push through the legislation.
“It’s obviously a failure,” Darmanin told TF1 television after offering his resignation, denouncing what he called an “unholy alliance” of the left and the far right to defeat the legislation.
The bill could now be sent back to the Senate, or the government could decide to withdraw the text, which is unlikely.
It could also use special executive powers to force it through without a vote, which would be a reversal of Macron’s earlier offer to put the immigration issue to a referendum.
