UPDATE - French constitutional court rejects large parts of much-contested immigration law

ADDS MORE DETAILS, REACTIONS

By Nur Asena Erturk

France's constitutional court rejected large parts of the government’s much-contested immigration law on Thursday.

The Constitutional Council said in a statement that it entirely or partially rejected all or part of 32 of the law's 86 articles.

The rejected articles included restrictions on family reunification and the crime of irregular residency in France.

The council also rejected the quotas on immigration planned for three years, as well as the differentiated access to social allowances for foreigners regarding their professional status and their duration of residency in France.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, considered "the author" of the project, wrote on X that the government "took note" of the decision.

Left-wing lawmaker Manuel Bompard also wrote on X that the law is now "totally amputated" and "has no legitimacy." He called for its withdrawal.

Jean-Claude Samouiller, president of the human rights group Amnesty International in France, hailed the council's decision, calling it a "victory" during a gathering in Paris, according to broadcaster RMC.

Far-right politician Marion Marechal, who will compete in European Parliament elections, said on X: "June 9 will be a referendum: Every vote for (the) Reconquete (party) will be a vote against immigration."

The law removed the automatic right of soil for children born to foreign parents in France.

The crime of irregular residency was reinstated after its cancellation in 2012. Those who commit it will be fined €3,750 ($4,067) and prohibited from entering France for three years.

The law was adopted on Dec. 19 after a fracturing of the political majority in parliament.

President Emmanuel Macron sent the new law to the council on Dec. 21.

The first version of the bill was de facto rejected by lawmakers when the Green groups' motion to dismiss it was adopted even before the first parliamentary debate on Dec. 11.

The government formed a joint committee of seven senators and seven members of parliament who found a consensus between the majority and the opposition with a reviewed version of the text.

After the Senate's passage of the revised text, lawmakers mostly voted in favor of the new version, which was hardened even more.

The government was criticized for being influenced by the right wing when preparing the law.

Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau resigned, while other ministers threatened the government with resignation.

Rumors of a Cabinet reshuffle surfaced, and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne -- whose image had already suffered following much-contested pension reforms during the first half of 2023 -- resigned on Jan. 8.

President Macron replaced her with Education Minister Gabriel Attal the next day, and a new government was formed on Jan. 11.