Arthur de Laborde / Photo credits: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
The immigration law adopted Tuesday by Parliament is not yet out of the woods. Socialist Party, France Insoumise and even the Head of State are considering seizing the Constitutional Council for measures “manifestly contrary to the Constitution”.
The immigration law was passed Tuesday evening by an overwhelming majority: 349 votes for, 186 against. A text carried by the government hardened in a joint committee and voted in particular by the 88 deputies of the National Rally. The Prime Minister congratulated herself on the adoption of this “necessary, useful, awaited by the French” text but in truth, this immigration law is not yet at the end of its troubles.
Next step: promulgation of the law
The next step is the promulgation of the law by Emmanuel Macron. The head of state has 15 days to do so, but the entry into force of the text should be delayed by appeals filed before the Constitutional Council. The Socialist Party and La France insoumise have already announced that they will seize it. An approach also envisaged by the Head of State who is counting on the Wise Men to bring down the provisions which irritate his majority. Gérald Darmanin himself recognized that several points could be censored. “The measures are manifestly and clearly contrary to the Constitution. The work of the Constitutional Council will do its job,” he declared.
Three measures could be declared unconstitutional
Three provisions could therefore be declared non-compliant with the Constitution: the multi-year quotas voted by Parliament, the reinstatement of the offense of illegal residence and the tightening of family reunification. Emmanuel Macron will speak this Wednesday evening on the show C to you on France 5 and should present the adoption of the bill as a political victory while seeking to reassure the left wing of its majority. The Minister of Health Aurélien Rousseau submitted his letter of resignation to Élisabeth Borne. In other words, it is now a matter of Emmanuel Macron trying to close ranks in Paris before flying to Jordan on Thursday for Christmas with the armed forces.