Gérard Collomb, Minister of the Interior (here in the National Assembly), who has just co-signed a circular allowing the census of migrants in reception centers, displays "a hard line" in the eyes of certain deputies La République working. – Photo credits: François BOUCHON/Le Figaro
The debate on the bill promises to be heated within the majority.
The debate on the bill promises to be heated within the majority.
Will the majority “and of the right, and of the left” resist its first shocks? With the approach of the presentation of the “asylum and immigration” bill – discussed in mid-February in the Council of Ministers then in early April in Parliament -, a number of guidelines set by the Minister of the Interior arouse debate within the group of La République en Marche deputies. Gérard Collomb, in charge of the Interior, displays a "hard line" in the eyes of some, "a safe shift" even making the fight against irregular immigration a priority.
A few days after the adoption of the bill authorizing the detention of "Dublines" - foreigners whose asylum request has already been examined in another member country of the European Union - and while Collomb authorized the census migrants in reception centres, certain tensions are felt within LREM. “The government would be well advised to review its position in a more humanitarian sense,” indignant Joël Giraud, deputy for Hautes-Alpes, where a “solidarity rope” took place on Sunday, in support of migrants. “On the subject of asylum, we will have to find the crest line, not be divisive, always keep in mind what Emmanuel Macron said in 2016: refugees are heroes”, recalls Pierre Person, MP from Paris.
"The government guidelines published in the press are only working bases which parliamentarians will quickly seize to reflect and debate"
Brigitte Bourguignon, president of the social affairs committee, also stands out from the bill and hopes to amend it: “The government guidelines published in the press are only working bases which parliamentarians will quickly take up to reflect and debate, by integrating at least a consultation with the associative sector.”
Olivier Véran, former PS deputy and general rapporteur for the Social Affairs Committee, promises that he will be “attentive” to ensuring that the human aspect is not neglected. “We will have to give ourselves the possibility of parliamentary debate. France can do more and better in terms of welcoming asylum seekers”, underlines this elected official, who shared his room, during his youth, with Lebanese refugees.
Pressure from associations is felt on parliamentarians. "The question of asylum is obviously a difficult subject", concedes Ludovic Mendes, deputy of Moselle. "Even if we don't all agree, we will have to reach a consensus, overcome the divisions to arrive at a balanced text." A goal shared by Hugues Renson, a defector from the right, who denies any "hardening" of migration policy.
“Some have modesty, because it's easier to defend generosity. The reality is that too few rejected asylum seekers are deported”
The risk of fracture of the majority is however taken very seriously in Beauvau. For several weeks, Collomb has been receiving parliamentarians to "explain the issues" of the bill. “There is no fracture on the text, but on the way of approaching the theme”, notes a source close to the file. “Some have modesty, because it's easier to defend generosity. The reality is that too few rejected asylum seekers are deported. It's not sexy but you have to have the courage to go all the way." In charge of a parliamentary mission on integration policy, the deputy of Val-d'Oise Aurélien Taché welcomes the government's desire to shorten the procedure times for asylum seekers. “The 'at the same time' in terms of asylum means setting up returns for those who have been rejected and guaranteeing real integration for the others,” he explains. “The group will never explode, there will never be slingers, because the deputies are in absolute loyalty to Emmanuel Macron”, wants to believe the deputy Gabriel Attal.
During the LREM group's back-to-school seminar on January 15, a workshop will be devoted to this subject. "Finally, the test of reality, courage, consistency," rejoices a close to the executive. The president of the group, Richard Ferrand, says he is optimistic about the ability of his troops to find an agreement. “There will be a large majority on it,” he promised.
