"The important thing is to have a firm text against illegal immigration," explained on CNews the minister, who had been preparing the ground for nearly a year for this bill which was to have two main components, one to facilitate the expulsion of foreigners representing a threat to public order, the other on integration, in particular to regularize some workers in sectors in "tension".

Against the backdrop of an outbreak of social fever against the pension reform, the President of the Republic decided to postpone the examination by the Senate, which was to start on March 28, announcing Wednesday that the bill would be "rearranged" and divided into "several texts".

"The Minister of the Interior always prefers that it is a single text, of course," responded Gérald Darmanin, explaining to defer to the decision of the executive.

"The prime minister is currently working with the presidents of the assemblies and in a few weeks we will have a discussion on immigration again," he said, adding that "France needs" such a law.

"For example, to expel foreign delinquents, we need a law, I need it to expel 4,000 more a year," he said.

On this bill, considered very insufficient on the right and the far right, shouted down on the left and by the defenders of the exiles, the Minister of the Interior deemed "quite possible to find a majority with the LR", which control the Senate.

On the other hand, he did not give any indication of what might remain in the text, which the President of the Republic wants "shorter".

The government is considering a tightened bill on the most technical aspects (reform of asylum procedures and litigation for foreigners), to leave the most abrasive elements in the hands of parliamentarians, who could table bills on the expulsion of foreigners (right) or integration through language and work (in the majority), had explained Thursday to AFP the entourage of the Minister of the Interior.

© 2023 AFP