The National Rally welcomes this, while the left sees it as the crossing of a red line. The immigration bill, adopted by the Senate and the National Assembly last Tuesday, would introduce a form of national preference, a theory imagined in the 1980s by a former member of the National Front. The extension of the deadline for receiving certain social benefits, including APL, is often cited by some to demonstrate the integration of this principle in the voted text.
Within public opinion, the divide around this theory follows a left/right axis, which seems to reappear in broad daylight since the adoption of the text, analyzes Jérôme Fourquet, director of the opinion department of Ifop and guest this Sunday of the Grand Rendez-vous Europe1/CNews/Les Échos. However, according to him, certain provisions already applied and which could resemble national preference do not necessarily provoke indignant reactions.
What about the granting of social benefits?
“In France, to occupy a position in the public service, you must have French nationality and this is absolutely not called into question in the public debate. And no one tells you that it is a shameful illustration of national preference “, underlines the analyst. An argument often put forward by the executive which is based on the example of the RSA, accessible after five years for foreigners who benefit from a residence permit.
Regarding the granting of social benefits to foreigners, the French are in favor of it, under certain conditions. “Does a foreigner who works, and therefore contributes, have the right to benefit from this type of allowance? On this, a majority of French people would agree. On the other hand, does a foreigner who lives in France and who does not work, and who therefore does not contribute, has the right to benefit from a certain number of social benefits? I think that the French are in favor of this not being the case”, believes Jérôme Fourquet.
“A highly flammable subject”
An illustration of the gap that exists within public opinion on the issue of immigration. “It’s a subject that touches on very deep questions: the conception you have of citizenship, of nationality. We see very vehement positions taken on one side or the other. It’s a highly flammable subject”, confirms Jérôme Fourquet. Before being able to enter into application, the immigration law must still pass the obstacle of the Constitutional Council, seized the day after the adoption of the text by President Emmanuel Macron. According to Gérald Darmanin himself, several provisions are likely to be challenged before the Sages.