Interior Minister Bruno Letailraud and Prime Minister Michel Barnier at the Saint-Ludeovic border crossing in Menton, France, October 18, 2024. Claire Gabby for Le Monde
Prime Minister Michel Barnier beckoned Interior Minister Bruno Letaillot to approach him. Barnier unveiled the main outlines of his immigration policy on Friday, October 18, from the Saint-Ludevic border crossing in the French town of Menton on the border with Italy. And Mr Barnier was keen to show that he and the interior minister were working on the issue. Same page. Never mind that Letailault has shocked some French citizens with fiery declarations that question the rule of law and argue that immigration is “not an opportunity” for the country. As Prime Minister Barnier’s office explains, “it is ultimately up to the Prime Minister to decide.” But while there may have been some sophistication in the prime minister’s comments, he showed little fundamental disagreement with the minister who stood smiling next to him.
Editorial Interior Minister Bruno Lutailot’s stance on immigration is a cause for concern
“The French expect effective policies to control immigration,” Barnier explained, confirming that a new immigration law could see the light of day in 2025. The bill has caused a chill in the camp of President Emmanuel Macron, an ally in the coalition government. The previous law, passed in December 2023 by a vote of the far-right Rassemblement Nationale (RN), contained numerous unconstitutional provisions, leading to the near collapse of the president’s campaign. The Prime Minister warned it still needed to be “done”.
So far, the government has only hinted that it will pursue legislation to increase the maximum detention period to 210 days (compared to the current 90 days). Will it also incorporate measures introduced by the right in the 2023 law before it was rejected as a legislative provision by the Constitutional Council (in other words, independently of the subject matter of the original text)?
Letailot has repeatedly called for reintroducing penalties for illegally staying in the country, introducing a three-year residency requirement to qualify for social security, and tightening migration standards for students and families. Mr. Barnier did not want to risk confirming Mr. Letailot’s intentions, saying “there may be other measures,” but not rejecting them outright. He said the “main subject” of the law was “preparing for the entry into force of the European Asylum and Migration Agreement”, scheduled for 2026, and that he wanted to accelerate this, urging everyone to “keep calm”. I called out.
Interior Minister Bruno Routailot and Prime Minister Michel Barnier at the Police and Customs Cooperation Center in Ponte San Ludovico (Ventimiglia) on the French-Italian border on October 18, 2024. Claire Gabby for Le Monde
The Interior Ministry stressed that Barnier and Letailot are “aligned.” The prime minister also admitted that he was “sympathetic.” The two members of the right-wing Républisan party also know that they are benefiting from the fact that a majority of European Union member states are united in support of tougher EU policies. At the end of the European Council meeting held in Brussels on October 17 and 18, the 27 member states called for “new legislative proposals” to “expand and accelerate” deportations “as a matter of urgency”. Ta. At issue is an amendment to the 2008 European Return Directive, which sets out a normative framework for the deportation of illegal aliens. “A new awareness is emerging,” said Menton’s Barnier. “All countries are facing this problem and we are tackling this together with a new way of thinking that puts arguments and ideology aside. I hope that this European way of thinking will spread here at home as well.”
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