The strict new law has been condemned by left-wing politicians and seen a top minister resign.
ADVERTISEMENTThe French government has approved a controversial new immigration bill intended to strengthen the country's ability to deport foreigners considered 'undesirable', prompting a heated debate after the far-right decided to back the measure.
The bill passed the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, with a 349-186 vote late on Tuesday. It had previously been voted by the Senate.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the text of the bill includes “useful, efficient provisions that were expected by our citizens.”
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who championed the bill, said the government wants “greater firmness against foreign offenders.”
However, despite it being praised by the far-right and it being seen as a significant parliamentary victory for President Emmanuel Macron, it has opened deep divisions within his centrist majority.
Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau offered his resignation in protest over the hardline bill, while others withdrew their support at the last minute. He will be replaced on a temporary basis by a junior minister, according to a government spokesperson.
More ministers may yet resign.
Far-right Marine Le Pen claimed it was an “ideological victory” for her anti-immigration platform and National Rally, now the biggest opposition force in French politics.
Macron, like many other European leaders, wants to strike a tough stance against migration, without limiting the economy's ability to recruit foreign workers.
After 18 months of twists and turns, France's Assembly voted for the bill with 349 votes for and 186 votes against.
Last week, opposition parties refused to debate the law, with the far-right saying it did not go far enough. The left rejected tougher rules in the first place.
In response, Macron's centrist government put forward a much stricter bill, which toughed rules for foreign students, limited welfare payments for foreigners and made it harder for children of non-nationals to become French citizens.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France's far left, denounced Macron's "sickening victory" secured with the support of the extreme right.
“A new political axis has been established,” he wrote on X.
France's left-wing has continually claimed the text is directly inspired by the programme of Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the far-right National Front.
The bill would have still passed if far-right lawmakers had abstained. However, the result would have been different if they had voted against it.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the law "protected the French", "regularised undocumented workers" and "simplified" legislation.
Le Pen's National Rally praised the bill, with the far-right leader praising it as an “ideological victory”.
ADVERTISEMENT“It is a total victory for the ideas defended by Marine Le Pen”, added National Rally deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy.
The debate in France comes as European Union leaders and top officials hailed on Wednesday a major breakthrough in talks on new rules to control migration. Critics said the reforms will weaken the rights of asylum-seekers and encourage more morally dubious deals with countries that people leave to get to Europe.