Tougher immigration rules, higher taxes: French PM Barnier policy plan's main takeaways
The new French prime minister's address to the freshly-elected legislature’s opening session was a crucial test for his government, which is already feeling the heat of no clear majority in the parliament.
On Tuesday, right-wing former EU negotiator Michel Barnier faced heckling and backlash from left-wing lawmakers and immediate criticism from the far right, which has become a powerful force following the results of snap elections held in the summer.
Barnier — who has in the past called for a moratorium on immigration — made a hardline pledge stance on migration, calling for “better control” of the number of people coming to France.
He proposed to “facilitate” the detention of foreigners staying illegally in the country, pending the implementation of deportation orders. He said France will continue “as long as needed” to implement controls at its national borders in the passport-free area in Europe.
In addition, Barnier suggested that the number of visas granted would be conditional on other nations’ ability to provide consular documents for their citizens being deported from France after arriving illegally.
A similar move by French President Emmanuel Macron prompted a year-long dispute with Morocco in 2022.
The debate around immigration in France has become further inflamed since a 22-year-old Moroccan man was named as the suspected attacker against a 19-year-old female student named Philippine. She was murdered and raped in an exclusive neighbourhood of Paris in late September.
In an interview with French broadcaster LCI on Sunday, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said there should be a referendum on the immigration question.
He expressed "regret" that the French constitution does not allow this. France currently cannot hold a referendum on immigration, as the issue is not within the scope of subjects on which such votes can be held.
France “will remain at the side of the Ukrainian people,” Barnier said on Tuesday. He stressed that Ukrainians were fighting “to defend their sovereignty and freedom” and “shared values” with France and Europe.
He vowed to implement France’s multi-billion-euro plan to boost its military spending in the coming years,
