Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Friday advocated for a national dialogue regarding immigration and the essence of French identity, following recent controversy surrounding his remarks about immigrants “flooding” into France.
Bayrou’s comments were in response to Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who suggested on Thursday that the constitution should be amended to revoke the citizenship rights currently afforded to individuals born in France, known as “jus soli” or “right of soil.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that focusing solely on this issue would be “too narrow,” and instead called for a broader discussion on citizenship.
“It is evident that this issue has been brewing for years,” Bayrou stated during an interview with broadcaster RMC.
“What does it mean to be French?” he inquired. “What rights are conferred? What responsibilities are expected? What benefits are provided? What commitments are made upon joining a national community?”
Bayrou acknowledged that the specifics of organizing such a debate need to be determined, but insisted that it should not be “delayed indefinitely.”
Last month, Bayrou faced significant backlash for his comments regarding the perception of immigrants “flooding” into France, a sentiment he noted was becoming increasingly prevalent across the nation.
The leftist opposition expressed strong disapproval, and centrist allies also criticized his statements, which suggested that immigration could be “positive” as long as it remained “proportionate” to the population size. However, his remarks received support from certain conservative and far-right representatives.
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The issue of “jus soli” has gained significant attention in French political discourse recently, particularly due to the influx of immigrants into Mayotte, a French territory located in the Indian Ocean, from the nearby Comoros islands.
Following a parliamentary vote on Thursday to limit this right specifically in Mayotte, Minister Darmanin expressed that the “jus soli” rights established in the French constitution should be comprehensively reviewed.
“I would support the French populace making a decision on this matter during the 2027 presidential election or through a referendum,” Darmanin stated to the National Assembly.
Bayrou noted that in both Mayotte and Guiana, another French territory, “thousands upon thousands of individuals arrive with the belief that having children there will grant them French nationality.”
“The entire situation warrants reevaluation,” the Prime Minister remarked.
Darmanin’s proposal received backing from proponents of stricter immigration policies, with Laurent Wauquiez, the leader of Les Republicains, advocating for the extension of Mayotte’s restrictions to encompass all of France.
Conversely, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, a former Prime Minister, opposed her colleague’s proposal, asserting that “the French people expect us to take action, rather than merely referencing potential constitutional changes in the future.”
Bayrou’s initiative to spark debate faced criticism as well, with Le Monde newspaper accusing the Prime Minister of conflating various issues.
“Francois Bayrou has contributed to the confusion by linking the situation in Mayotte to the broader topic of migration,” the editorial stated.
“He has fallen into the dual trap of viewing Mayotte as a testing ground and conflating immigration policies with ‘national identity’,” Le Monde concluded.
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