The presidential majority needs to breathe at Christmas because the start of the school year promises to be eventful

Christmas vacation begins Friday evening and Renaissance members can’t wait to take a break. But they will not be rid of the immigration file at the start of the school year.

“Christmas is the only time to sit down and think”, said a minister. This break will be all the more beneficial for the presidential majority after the immigration law. We note a real relief and a certain impatience when we talk to them about the “confectioners’ truce”.

MPs who voted against will take the opportunity to digest their “sadness” and their “anger”. The government will give up but some will keep an eye on public opinion: “What will the French remember from this mess?” asks an advisor.

Censorship of certain provisions expected in January

The Macronists would like to start again on new bases after the holidays, but the immigration subject will not be closed. The head of state absolutely wanted to complete everything before Christmas to move on in January, but the Constitutional Council needs a month to rule.

Developments are therefore expected in January, if the wise people censor provisions, but also if they do not censor, as with the subject of the deposit for foreign students, for example. Indeed, Emmanuel Macron and Élisabeth Borne promised the Minister of Higher Education, Sylvie Retailleau, to review the measure by refusing her resignation on Wednesday, December 20, on the sidelines of the council of ministers.

The question of the AME and the subject of reshuffle

There is also the question of State Medical Aid (AME). The Prime Minister promised, in writing, to the President of the Senate Gérard Larcher a reform at the beginning of 2024. It was a condition of the “deal” between the government and LR on the immigration law. But in the majority, some people balk when we say “SOUL”. No question of “put a coin back in the machine, let’s talk about equal opportunities”, implores a deputy. “Stop, let’s stop there, annoys another, Borne is committed but she will be Prime Minister until when, first of all?”. The subject of reshuffle returns, without knowing yet whether the president will shake up everything or not.

The holidays will be conducive to reflection. A majority leader warns that, change of government or not, “it would be madness not to respect the word given on the AME, we need the LR otherwise we risk a motion of rejection on all the laws!”. But an advisor responds: “The LRs have tired us, so we won’t do anything revolutionary on the AME.” A minister hopes that with a “strong program on everything else”, the consequences of the immigration law will be relegated to the rank of “small subjects”.