France unveils tougher immigration law amid political tensions

The French government is planning more immigration reforms, despite the current regulations being introduced just under a year ago. These changes, to be presented early next year, were announced by the Prime Minister's spokesperson, Maud Bregeon.

The new law aims to tighten control over individuals residing in France without proper permits, including extending detention periods in administrative centers before deportation.

This will affect people whose status is unresolved and who are considered a threat to public order. Currently, they may stay in special centers for up to 90 days. The changes could extend this period to up to 210 days.

"We do not rule out the possibility of considering other regulations," Bregeon emphasized. She added that "there should be no taboos when it comes to protecting the French."

Prime Minister Michel Barnier and the new Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, have adopted a tougher stance on both legal and illegal immigration since their appointments. Retailleau, known for advocating radical solutions, has raised concerns among centrist deputies who have supported President Emmanuel Macron since his victory in 2017.

The previous immigration law, adopted last December, fractured the internal unity of parliamentarians supporting Macron. The reform was then described as an "ideological victory" for Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally. Jordan Bardella, the party's chairman, praised the plans for further changes, claiming that "now nothing can happen in parliament without the involvement" of his group, as quoted by Politico.

Barnier, who leads a minority government, needs support not only from the right but also from centrist members of parliament, who are skeptical about further reforms. Gabriel Attal, a former Prime Minister and now the leader of the pro-Macron Renaissance group, openly criticizes pushing for a new law, arguing that "passing a law for the sake of passing is not a priority."

Changes in French immigration law align with a broader European trend of tightening migration policies, particularly following the electoral successes of populist parties in countries like Austria, where the pro-Russian Freedom Party recently triumphed. Even parties from the more liberal spectrum, such as the Social Democrats in Denmark and Germany, are calling for migration restrictions. This topic will be a main focus of the European Council summit, scheduled for October 17 in Brussels.