French Citizens Protest against New Immigration Law
Over the weekend, thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of cities across France to protest the new immigration legislation. The protesters expressed their concerns that the new law is in line with far-right ideologies and goes against French principles. They called on President Emmanuel Macron not to sign the stringent legislation.
The Interior Ministry reported that 75,000 people participated in the protest, with 16,000 alone marching in the streets of Paris. However, the hard-left CGT union contested these figures, claiming a turnout of 150,000 protesters.
The protests come just days before the Constitutional Council’s decision on whether the law aligns with the French Constitution. The bill is said to favor France’s capacity to expel foreigners and introduces stricter conditions for social welfare access and other disadvantages for immigrants.
The protest was supported by more than 200 popular personalities from various sectors, including the arts and unions. Their objection to the new immigration law focuses on the disadvantages it poses for migrants in France.
President Macron, while fully supporting the law through parliament, has acknowledged that some articles might be unconstitutional. There are expectations that the Constitutional Council could rule against more than ten articles in the bill.
The new immigration bill also affects British second home-owners in France, allowing them to stay for more than 90 days in the country, as initially agreed upon in the Brexit agreement.
The protest and the impending decision of the Constitutional Council have sparked much attention and controversy across France, with concerns from various sectors about the potential impact of the new immigration law.
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