In France, Macron’s Grip on Power Loosens as Party Members Abstain from Vote on Immigration Bill

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France’s National Assembly approved legislation that would tighten immigration and asylum laws by doubling the time migrants can be detained, speeding their deportation and strengthening police powers to search illegal immigrants. But the vote exposed unusual opposition from within Mr. Macron’s large centrist majority, some of whose members have criticized the proposal as being too harsh on migrants.

{snip} All of those who voted in favor came from Mr. Macron’s majority and other smaller centrist parties. But even after a last-minute effort to soften one provision, 14 members of Mr. Macron’s majority were among the abstainers — and one member voted against the legislation in a rare show of defiance.

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Mr. Macron’s government introduced the proposal in February to fulfill an election promise. Along with allowing migrants to be detained for up to 90 days and giving police greater powers to fingerprint them, the bill aims to simplify and speed up asylum-application processes. The bill also includes measures aimed at helping those whose asylum applications are accepted to better integrate into French life.

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{snip} Many on the left argued that the law weakened France’s historical support for a right to asylum and played to xenophobia. Those on the right, including center-right Les Republicains, said the law was a fig leaf that didn’t go nearly far enough to control immigration problems they said would get worse.

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