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The contentious bill introduces stricter regulations coupled with controversial statements on the matter by the nation’s Prime Minister, sparking concern about a potential right-wing agenda.
The topic of immigration has always been a point of contention for many. Seen as a cause for pride in previous eras, it has become a cautionary tale in the modern world. Just recently, chaos erupted in France after Prime Minister François Bayrou called out the nation’s ‘flooding’ of immigrants.
His rationale stemmed from what he thought was a much-needed ‘proportion’ of foreign contributions to the population. He further warned that an overwhelming influx of immigrants could create a bad repertoire among the native populace.
Bayrou even went on to say that the influx could ultimately cause the nation to lose its cultural essence and that some parts of France were already going through it.
So, why would Bayrou, a centrist politician, share his concerns in the most far-right possible way and why was this even brought up in the first place? As of 2021, approximately 7 million immigrants resided in France, representing a little more than 10% of the population.
The population of immigrants has seen a notable shift from older Europeans to younger individuals from North Africa, who now constitute a substantial portion of the immigrant demographic.
Last year, the net migration rate reached 152,000, indicating that there were more arrivals than departures. Moreover, the nation is one of the biggest host countries that take in refugees with 142,496 asylum applications two years ago.
As such, the growing non-French population has worried the government in terms of security, economic, and social concerns amongst others. With past policies not being able to placate cynics, a new immigration bill was enacted this year.
Its focus has been scoped down to controlling irregular migration with undocumented immigrants and foreign workers. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of integrating foreign citizens into French society via language proficiency, adherence to state principles, and workforce participation.
Some of the changes mentioned in the bill include a limit on permit renewals, the introduction of a new permit for medical professionals, and a stricter process on bringing family members into France.
Changes to the ‘jus soli policy’ also state that children born in France to foreign parents will no longer be considered French citizens. Instead, they would have to apply for citizenship once a certain age is reached.
The bill, obviously, doesn’t come without its controversy. For starters, it delays migrants access to welfare benefits undermining their ability to meet basic needs. Moreover, it criminalizes undocumented migrants present without proper immigration documentation. Many have argued that not only does this stigmatize them but also further complicates their legal status.
Most of all, the biggest concern comes with the vast support the bill is getting from the far-right parties. Coming back to Bayrou’s statement, his view on the matter has been called out as an attempt to get the backing of the far-right, who could make or break his career.
With the bill gaining momentum among the far-right factions, President Emmanual Macron has also been criticized for succumbing to the pressures of those parties.
You may still be confused about why everyone is against the far-right in this matter. For starters, they are all openly anti-immigration. Moreover, many critics have also accused Bayrou’s statement of echoing sentiments from the Great Replacement Theory.
This conspiracy theory posits that non-white immigrants are deliberately replacing white populations in Western countries, influencing far-right discourse in France.
His use of the word ‘flooding’ raised concerns that right-wing narratives were being adopted to justify the strict immigration policies. With national identity and security being central themes to the theory, many fear that the bill is shaped by anxieties stemming from these themes.
Overall, whether the bill is influenced by the theory or not, power-play is definitely a factor. In the name of strengthening immigration policies, politicians have resorted to playing a game of favorites amongst themselves to protect their careers.
One can only hope that the contents of the bill are carried out effectively without further stigmatizing and complicating the lives of immigrants.
