Immigration law: Emmanuel Macron denies using shortcuts in RN

The Élysée Palace swears: whether the immigration law is passed or not, with or without the support of the RN votes, Emmanuel Macron actually planned to speak this Wednesday, December 20, in the program “C à vous” on France 5. “We have been working on it a few days. Before the holidays, he wanted to return to the significant moments of the outgoing year and outline prospects for the French for 2024,” insists those around him to dismiss the idea that this meeting would have been organized in a hurry, in response to the current crisis. However, the day after the final vote on this text, so controversial in the political class, the President of the Republic is on the defensive, at the head of a majority, shocked and undermined by the bitterness of some who came to explain himself, I will live for a good two hours.

“Fortunately, not all days are the same. There are days like this…” he says from the very beginning, from a specially equipped stage in the banquet hall of the Elysee Palace, under a thick layer of makeup. “He looks a little tired, he’s worn out, he’s exhausted,” a government member commented as he left the Council of Ministers that morning. By distancing himself, at least publicly, in recent days from the debates and controversies arising from this text, leaving control to his Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Macron has thus tried to close this bad political chapter for him, his majority and the remaining members have a five-year term.

“We have to accept what happened yesterday, we have to reassure people,” he pleads. He also put out the fire in his government with the resignation of Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau, who could turn to others. “I respect his resignation,” Macron says. But when we manage and we have responsibilities, we don’t have the right to ask questions, we have responsibilities. (…) Having responsibility means making choices.”

In the last hours, behind the scenes, the president repeatedly smashed this melodica, supported by the left and part of public opinion, that he would bring a political victory to RN. In an interview with Le Monde, his predecessor Francois Hollande went further, saying he had “adopted ideas” from the far right. “But what ideas? “, storms the head of state, citing a number of counter-examples to refute these accusations: “South Africa, you need to stay in France for five years to touch it. Bonus for activity, which was also voted for by the left. Did we say that these were the ideas of the National Rally? “As for Marine Le Pen, who likes to put the presidential majority in such a delicate position, she condemns “the bath attendant’s maneuver, so to speak, rude” and refutes “any ideological victory” of the RN.

“Before and after this five-year plan”

To bolster his demonstration, the President then returns to the gains preserved in the bill and rejects any idea that the text would introduce national preferences in receiving housing assistance (APL): “We are not for a second questioning the Soil Act, We have no preference when hiring. We also preserved emergency housing. Everything that the National Union is fighting against. “As a result, he said, this bill will be “even a defeat for the RN.”

A speech that is still difficult to pass in the government itself. “This five-year immigration bill will have a before and an after.” Now there are no longer any obstacles to the National Union,” the minister fears. Another is concerned about the months ahead: “We must quickly prove that this law is effective, especially in removing foreigners who are required to leave. Otherwise we will do all this in vain. »

That’s all the risk that awaits the leader. Emmanuel Macron will have the opportunity to return to him in ten days at his request on December 31. “Short wishes,” those around you are already promising. Before the “big meeting with the nation” announced for January. In what form and what to say? The mystery is still at this stage.