New French plan aims to keep migrants, and far right, at bay

problem that can lead to dif- And the runner-up in the

ficulties” — meaning political presidential election was

difficulties — he told report- Marine Le Pen of the far-right

PARIS — European coun- ers, before getting into the National Front, whose theme

tries from Poland to Italy details of the law. was immigrant bashing.

and Britain are shutting bor- The new law, while lim- The National Front has

ders, stepping up deporta- ited in scope, would make it not gone away, although it

tions and making unsavory somewhat tougher for those is much weakened, and it is

deals with warlords in Libya who enter France illegally. still singing the same song.

to restrict migrants. Now They would have less time Its spokesman, Sebas-

comes France’s turn. to apply for asylum and half tien Chenu, called the law

The government of Presi- as much time to appeal if a “fraud” this week and said

dent Emmanuel Macron has their application is rejected. “the government is organiz-

put forward a draft law that The measure is almost ing migratory subversion.”

even some of his own sup- certain to win approval It promised something

porters said was too harsh. after debate in April, given much tougher.

Human rights groups say it Macron’s large parliamen- Macron knows that his

is intended to make it eas- tary majority. principal political challenge

ier to expel would-be asy- More than 60 percent of in the years ahead will come

lum-seekers. French people say there from the millions of discon-

But in presenting the pro- are too many immigrants tented voters who opted for

posal, Macron’s interior min- in France. Le Pen last year. He is try-

ister, Gerard Collomb, made The law is the offspring ing to use the momentum of

no bones about its other aim: of two pressing realities in his still-young presidency to

to head off the political chal- French politics. Last year, deny the far-right its favor-

lenge of the far right. the country saw 100,000 ite issue.

The migrant issue “is a asylum-seekers, a record.