Marine Le Pen’s Party Calls for Referendum after Constitutional Setback on Immigration Reform
Marine Le Pen’s party is demanding a referendum following the Constitutional Council’s rejection of parts of the immigration reform. The Constitutional Council of France struck down 32 articles from the government-driven immigration reform, effectively nullifying over a third of the document, including critical issues such as the tightening of requirements for foreigners to receive aid.
The judges ruled that some aspects were unrelated to the core of the legislative project initiated by the Executive. President Emmanuel Macron’s usual supporting majority was not enough, exposing internal divisions, and he had to seek support from the National Rally. The French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, in an initial response, noted the dismissal of “numerous” articles, attributing it to a failure to adhere to “parliamentary procedure.” In fact, he considers that the Constitutional Council has endorsed “the entirety of the government’s text.” “Never has a document envisaged so many means to expel criminals and so much demand for the integration of foreigners,” he stated on his X social media account.
From the National Rally, Jordan Bardella expressed regret over the “blow” dealt by the judges, for which he also blames Macron, and lamented that the Constitutional had censored the most stringent measures. “The immigration law is dead on arrival. The only solution is a referendum,” he declared.
