The French Constitutional Council rejected several provisions of the immigration law, particularly measures imposed under pressure from the right to tighten the proposal made by the government, which stirred divisions within President Emmanuel Macron's camp, according to Agence France-Presse.
A month after its approval in Parliament, the nine members of the council responsible for assessing the constitutionality of laws rejected the majority of the measures that had sparked significant criticism and protests, especially the reduction of welfare benefits for non-European foreigners, the establishment of annual immigration quotas, and the tightening of family reunification conditions.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated, "The Constitutional Council fully endorses the government's text," indicating that "the executive has noted the rejection of many provisions added by Parliament for not adhering to the proper parliamentary procedures."
The executive branch had anticipated this rejection as several provisions in the text were, in Darmanin's own admission, "clearly unconstitutional." Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella, head of the far-right National Rally, condemned the "overthrow by judges with the support of the president," asserting that "the immigration law is born dead." He called for a referendum on immigration.
Republicans party leader Éric Ciotti said, "Amendment is more necessary than ever," while Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally parliamentary group in the National Assembly, expressed that "only a constitutional amendment can respond to the immigration stakes that we face at our core."
