France to unveil tough migrant bill
Controversial legislation opens divisions in left-right coalition
The French government was yesterday set to unveil a tough new immigration bill that is proving one of the most divisive of Emmanuel Macron’s young presidency.
The legislation, which criminalises illegal border crossings and aims for quicker deportation of those deemed economic migrants, has sparked widespread anger from NGOs who have branded it repressive.
The government says the law balances “efficiency” with “humanity”, offering faster asylum to refugees found to have fled conflict or repression.
But it has opened divisions in the left-right coalition that newcomer Macron set up when he came to power in May, with even some members of his Republic On The Move (LREM) party breaking ranks to criticise it.
“The most vulnerable will be punished,” said JeanMichel Clement, a lawmaker who joined the centrist LREM after switching from the Socialists. “It’s not forbidden to put a little humanity into a draft law.”
Some workers at France’s refugee protection office Ofpra were going on strike to protest the bill yesterday, branding it “an unequivocal departure from France’s tradition of asylum”.
They join staff at the asylum court who have been on strike for nine days over their working conditions, with immigration lawyers also raising concerns over aspects of the draft law.
The bill was to be presented to the cabinet later yesterday before being tabled in parliament in April. While leftwingers see it as too punitive, the right calls it too lax.
Macron has come under pressure to toughen his stance after winning power in an election in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen won 34 per cent of the vote, capitalising on concerns over immigration.
The infamous ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais was razed in 2016 but young Africans and south Asians continue to head to the coast hoping to stow away on trucks crossing to Britain, while others are camped out on the streets of Paris.
France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year.
Liberation newspaper noted that while polls showed voters backing tougher laws the relocation of thousands of migrants to towns and villages nationwide in 2016 went off largely without a hitch.
Centrist lawmaker