thirty-two left-wing departments refuse to apply the immigration law

3 mins

While the immigration bill was voted by the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 19, these presidents of left-wing departments denounce a text “ contrary to the values ​​of the Republic “.

They have in fact announced that they will not apply the law on immigration, referring to a text which sets up a “ national preference “.

The change in the conditions for granting the APA in question

The debates crystallize in particular around the APA, three letters to designate the personalized autonomy allowance. This is aid, paid to those aged 60 and over who are losing their autonomy, by the departments. These are people who can no longer eat or dress themselves, for example. It is of two types: APA at home, to pay for home care expenses, or APA in establishment, to cover all or part of the costs of the nursing home, for example.

This aid is affected by this new law, because its conditions of allocation to foreigners in a legal situation will change. Today, it is accessible to them provided they hold a resident card or a residence permit, which should not change. The new thing is that there will now be a minimum period of residence in France to receive it. For foreigners outside the European Union in a legal situation who do not work, you will have to wait five years. For those who work, it will be thirty months.

An “unfair” and “ineffective” law

A measure that many elected officials describe as “ national preference “. Notably the left-wing department presidents who, in a joint press release, expressed their refusal to apply the law. They judge her unfair ” And ” ineffective “. The first to be fiercely opposed to it was Serge Rigal, president of the Lot departmental council. On BFMTV he declared that he was going to propose the vote of a “ universal autonomy allowance to help people who would be excluded by law “.

Other departments followed suit very quickly, Wednesday December 20, such as Paris or Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, which has a significant proportion of people with immigrant backgrounds. Its socialist president, Stéphane Troussel, wants to make it a “ republican shield against national preference “.

Others go even further like the president of Gironde, Jean-Luc Gleyze. He estimates that ” we are touching on a France which risks seeing the ideas of Vichy return, whitewashed “. This is in reference to the Vichy regime in power during World War II.

Read also“It’s a day of shame”: after the vote on the immigration bill in France, the indignation of NGOs

Accusations of “sedition”

Words that caused a reaction, particularly on the right. Eric Ciotti, guest this Thursday, December 21 on France Inter, speaks for example of “ sedition “.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, recalled on CNEWS that “ the law imposes itself on everyone, especially when you are elected by the French people “.

What do the rebellious departments risk? If the law is adopted as is, which is far from certain at the moment, it will be mandatory, the departments will have to apply it. If they do not do so, the administrative courts will force their hand. Last hope for left-wing elected officials: the Constitutional Council. Seized on Wednesday by the government itself, it could decide to censor the law.

Read alsoFrance: Macron “assumes” the law on immigration, a “shield that we lacked”