Macron says new law will protect France from its 'immigration problem'

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has defended a new immigration law that has split his party and sparked the resignation of his health minister, describing it as a necessary "shield".

This photograph taken on December 20, 2023 shows a television screen broadcasting French TV channel France 5 as French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during an interview in the "C a vous" TV show, at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, following the approval of the law to control immigration. © AFP/Ludovic Marin

France, he said, had "an immigration problem" and the law was needed to reduce illegal immigration but also facilitate the integration of documented arrivals.

Although France has a long tradition of welcoming refugees and immigrants, a rise in the number of asylum seekers, a chronic affordable-housing shortage, and a cost-of-living crisis have worsened social and political tensions in the country.

Speaking on the national France 5 TV channel on Wednesday evening, Macron described the new bill as "a shield that we needed."

The law has caused a revolt among his party's deputies, and prompted health minister Aurelien Rousseau to leave the government.

Macron added that the government needed "to stand by" the law "and calm the tensions".

Following 18 months of wrangling over one of the flagship reforms of Macron's second term, both chambers of parliament backed the controversial legislation on Tuesday.

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) endorsed the bill in a move some media dubbed a "kiss of death".

 'Problems they feed on'

But Macron denied that the law was close to the RN's ideology, saying that to stop the far right being elected to government "we need to handle the problems that they feed on."

Around a quarter of the 251 lawmakers in Macron's camp voted against the bill or abstained and several left-wing ministers have registered their opposition.

• What are the controversial immigration reforms adopted by France's parliament?

Commenting on Rousseau's resignation, Macron said he "respects" the decision.

He added: "I also have a lot of respect for the deputies of the governing coalition who voted in favour of the law although they did not like all its aspects."

Macron said the law would regulate immigration without sacrificing French "values".

'No ministerial revolt'

Rousseau is being replaced by junior minister Agnes Firmin Le Bodo on a temporary basis, government spokesman Olivier Veran said earlier adding that there was "no ministerial revolt".

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne put on a brave face, saying the adoption of the law had not provoked a "crisis in the majority".

Macron said in the TV interview he believed some of the law's provisions were probably unconstitutional, which is why he would submit it to the Constitutional Council.

The text of the bill was hardened under pressure from the right. But Borne stressed that in the end the ruling party did not need the support of the RN to push it through.

Beating Le Pen to secure five more years in 2022, Macron has vowed to stave off her rise. But he has been accused of pandering to the far right to push through his reform agenda.

(with newswires)