France passes tough immigration bill amid Macron party rebellion
Al Jazeera
The new legislation includes amendments on residency and citizenship that won the approval of the far right.
The French parliament has passed by a wide margin an immigration bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron after a rebellion within his party over the toughened-up legislation that had secured the endorsement of the far right.
The bill had been significantly toughened since it was first introduced, with some on the left of Macron’s ruling Renaissance party accusing his government of caving in to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) in an attempt to secure support.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, an ambitious 41-year-old who has spearheaded the legislation, expressed relief that the votes of his coalition and conservatives were enough to get the bill through parliament.
Some 349 members voted in favour with 186 against. The upper house had passed the legislation already.
“Today, strict measures are necessary,” Darmanin said afterwards. “It’s not by holding your nose in central Paris that you can fix the problems of the French in the rest of the country.”
Immigrant rights groups fear harsh policies and potential legal pressure could accelerate in second Trump term.
Small islands and least-developed nations say their climate finance interests were ignored.
Global lender says it will release about $333m to crisis-hit nation as signs of economic recovery emerge.
At least four people have been killed in the attack on the Basta neighbourhood, according to the Health Ministry.
A series of unexplained incidents causing damage to pipelines and cables in the Baltic Sea has occurred in the past two years. Could this be a new form of underwater warfare?
The hedge fund manager will be responsible for implementing president-elect’s pledges to cut taxes and raise tariffs.
Cola Gaza offers its drinkers an ‘apartheid-free’ alternative as they boycott big-name brands.
These were the key developments on the 1,003rd day of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Defectors from Myanmar’s military and police are learning skills that could put them on a new path after years of war.
World Health Organization says 226 health workers, patients killed in Lebanon since start of Israel’s war on Hezbollah.