He announced this the day after the vote. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has referred the matter to the Constitutional Council concerning the Immigration Law, adopted by the Assembly on 19 December. In a letter addressed to Laurent Fabius, the president of the Constitutional Council, Emmanuel Macron explained that he had referred the matter to the Wise Men "in view of the extent of the evolution of the text compared to its initial version and the importance for our Nation of the constitutional rights and principles at stake".
The president hopes that "the provisions of the law can only be implemented after the Constitutional Council has verified that they respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution," he wrote in the letter, dated December 21 and available on the Council's website.
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Emmanuel Macron had recognized - like Elisabeth Borne and Gérald Darmanin - that the text could include "provisions that are not in accordance with our Constitution", during an interview Wednesday on France 5.
Several measures targeted
In particular, several measures are targeted. The conditioning of social benefits to a minimum period of residence in France is particularly pointed out, as well as the introduction of annual migration quotas or the establishment of a "guarantee" for foreign students.
The matter had already been referred to the Council on Friday by left-wing MEPs. The latter believe that the text contains "a record number of articles contrary to constitutional principles" and demand the total censure of the law.
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The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, also appealed to the Elders. In particular, it asks them to pay particular attention to the articles concerning the payment of social benefits or migration quotas.
The Constitutional Council has a maximum period of one month to rule. They can choose to approve the text or censor it in whole or in part.