Get back on track as quickly as possible. This is Emmanuel Macron’s objective during a long-term interview, Wednesday December 20 on France 5, in the program “C à vous”, broadcast from 7 p.m. live from the Elysée. Following the chaotic adoption of the immigration bill, the President of the Republic said he assumed a “useful text”which he repeatedly described as “the shield that we lacked”. The bill was clearly toughened by the right in Parliament, and voted for by the far right, causing confusion among the majority. Emmanuel Macron has begun a delicate operation to regain control. Follow his interview in our live stream.
“Respect” for the resigning Minister of Health. Emmanuel Macron said he respected the choice of the former Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, who resigned on Wednesday in disagreement with the immigration bill. “We must accept” this text, launched the President of the Republic, who sees in it “the shield that we lacked”.
Friction points. Asked about the new measures provided for by the bill, Emmanuel Macron says he disapproves of the deposit required from foreign students. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”, he declares. An opinion shared by Dean Lewis, the vice-president of France Universités, who even judges it “discriminatory”.
Left-wing departments refuse to apply the future law. At the local level, the text on immigration does not pass in certain territories. The 32 departments led by the left declare that they will not apply the “national preference” for the personalized autonomy allowance (APA), which will now be conditional on five years of presence on French territory for unemployed foreigners, and two and a half years for those who have a job.