Taking a tough decision, the French parliament on Tuesday passed the controversial immigration bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron. However, it led to President Macron facing cracks within his ruling alliance, leaving him alone as he took a tough decision. Witnessing the passing of the bill, Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau offered his resignation in protests over the hardline immigration bill.
The bill has left Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party divided and soul-searching as the bill, approved on Tuesday, contained several strict measures. Notably, these measures were outrightly supported by far-right Marine Le Pen, who claimed it to be an “ideological victory”. Since Marine Le Pen’s party National Rally was in support, the bill was passed in Parliament with a wide majority but left tough stains on Macron’s alliance.
The passing of the immigration bill represents that the Macron government could take tough measures on migration while opening France’s borders to allow foreign workers to enter, who could the country’s economy by filling sectors where it is struggling.
Though the bill has been endorsed by Le Pen’s National Rally, now the single biggest opposition party in Parliament, the left-leaning members of Macron’s Renaissance Party and allied factions are not in its support, with several members even threatening to resign.
The new legislation makes it more difficult for migrants to bring family members to France and delays their access to welfare benefits. It also bans detaining minors in detention centers. The tougher version appealed to right-wing parties, who backed it on Monday.
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