French health minister resigns over contentious immigration law
France's health minister has resigned over the adoption of a controversial immigration law backed by the far-right, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, while denying there was any rebellion within President Emmanuel Macron's cabinet.
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Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau did not attend a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning and would be replaced on a temporary basis by junior minister Agnes Firmin Le Bodo, the government said.
Spokesman Olivier Veran added: "There is no ministerial revolt."
Rousseau, a former communist, earlier told Le Monde daily he would resign in protest against the new law.
"It's not possible for me to defend this text," he said.
The immigration bill, a compromise between the centrist president's party and the conservative opposition, has been hailed as an "ideological victory" by far right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen.
It was adopted late Tuesday by a large majority in the National Assembly after months of heated debate and delays. The ruling Renaissance parliamentary group did not need the support of RN to push it through.
Party fractures
The legislation shows the difficulties Macron faces in governing without a parliamentary majority, which he lost in the June 2022 election after winning a second presidential mandate.
While Le Pen endorsed the tightened immigration measures, key left-leaning members of Renaissance indicated they could no longer do so, accusing the government bowing to pressure from the far right.
"The political crisis around the immigration bill is a moment of truth where all the fragilities of Emmanuel Macron's mandate are coming together," the Le Monde daily said in an editorial.
Several other ministers also reportedly threatened to resign.
'Duty done'
“I have the feeling of duty being accomplished,” Borne told France Inter radio Wednesday morning – adding that she was still determined to block Le Pen.
“We don’t vote with the RN ... We respond to the concerns of the French; that’s how we fight the RN."
Borne said contents of the bill deemed unconstitutional would be referred to France's constitutional court.
While admitting the final version of the text was not what she had hoped for, Borne said the bill would allow the government to "move forward” on the issue.
Macron was to give a television interview on Wednesday evening to discuss key moments of 2023, including the new immigration rules.
A key element of the law is that social security benefits for foreigners will now be conditioned on five years of presence in France, or 30 months for those who have jobs.
Migration quotas can also now be agreed and there are measures for dual-national convicts being stripped of French nationality as well.
The RN had previously said it would vote against the bill or abstain. French media dubbed her surprise move a "kiss of death" for Macron's party.
Passing the legislation was critical for Macron, who cannot run again for president in 2027. Le Pen is widely expected to run.
(with newswires)
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