A few days before the arrival of the immigration bill in the Senate, article 3 which provides for the regularization of undocumented workers in so-called shortage occupations creates fractures in the government, in the majority and among the Republicans. Will the provision appear in the text?
Gérald Darmanin seems to be saying that he cares about Article 3. Elisabeth Borne seemed to think that we could do without it after having dinner with the boss of Les Républicains senators Bruno Retailleau, before deny. When other sources mention an article which could be transformed into a decree or a circular or into another text of law presented subsequently.
What’s stuck?
The left wing of the majority but also the Republicans do not want it. We clearly saw that there was a match in the government between the Minister of the Interior and the Prime Minister. The majority also fractures with the left wing deputies who do not intend to abdicate on the regularization of undocumented immigrants in professions in tension. In mid-September, MP Sacha Houlié initiated a column co-signed by around thirty other MPs, including some from the left. This week MP Marc Ferracci, very close to Emmanuel Macron, said it clearly in an interview: if this provision disappears, I will not vote “. And for their part, the Republicans want a very firm text, notably the group’s deputies in the Assembly who also published a petition at the beginning of the week. Senate Republicans are also calling for a tougher law. But in the Senate the right has the majority with the centrists, who are more positioned on the government’s text, which is more balanced. So what text will come out of the Senate? How many will be on the right to vote for the government’s text? Here again everything is very uncertain.
And the National Rally?
As for the National Rally, it had until now indicated its intention not to vote for the text. But Marine Le Pen changed strategy and decided to enter into negotiations. The head of the RN deputies understood how to trap Gérald Darmanin. She declared earlier this week that “ a small law with small measures that improve the situation a little bit, we can vote for it », Concretely, the group will vote on the immigration bill if article 3 is deleted. A statement which obviously triggered tensions within the majority.
This promises heated debates in Parliament because a text which would be voted on thanks to the RN and part of the Republicans but without part of the majority, could cause divisions. The shadow of article 49-3 looms large again.