French Commission Approves Controversial Immigration Bill
The Joint Commission in France has reached a consensus on the government’s controversial immigration bill, with a common draft text agreed upon by the 14 parliamentarians. The draft text outlines conditions for rental support and family allowances for foreigners living in the country, stating that these benefits will be partially conditioned on work.
According to the agreed draft text, working foreigners will be eligible for rental support 3 months after arriving in France, while non-working foreigners will be eligible after 5 years. Similarly, foreigners with a job will be able to access family benefits 30 months after arriving in the country, while those without a job will have to wait 5 years.
Furthermore, dual citizens who commit crimes against security forces may face the possibility of being stripped of their French citizenship under the proposed bill.
The draft text will now be put to vote first in the Senate, followed by the National Assembly. Far-right National Rally (RN) Party Deputy Marine Le Pen has announced her party’s support for the text, describing it as an “ideological victory” for the party.
However, the bill has faced criticism from the opposition, with accusations that it contains suggestions from the center-right and far-right and contains harsh articles against foreigners and immigrants. Opposition MPs have accused the ruling party of aligning with the far right and have called for action to prevent the passing of what they describe as the “most xenophobic bill in the history of the 5th Republic.”
In response, MPs have urged citizens to contact ruling party MPs to oppose the bill and form a united front against the far right. The bill has sparked a heated debate in France, and its fate will be determined in the upcoming votes in the parliament.
