France’s new prime minister is under pressure to follow through on an old election promise to suspend immigration.
Michel Barnier, is being propped up by Marine Le Pen of the hard-right, who said she supported the three to five-year moratorium proposed by Barnier when he made a run for president in 2021.
New French prime minister Michel Barnier.Credit: AP
At the time, Barnier proposed a “pause” in order to take back control of the country’s migration policy.
Along with a moratorium, his plans included ending the regularisation of undocumented immigrants, tightening the criteria for family reunification and reducing the number of long-stay visas.
In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche published on Sunday, Le Pen, leader of the hard-right National Rally, said she was in favour of Barnier’s call to implement a temporary immigration ban and expressed approval of the Brexit negotiator as prime minister.
Migrants camps have sprung up throughout Paris.Credit: AP
“There is no doubt that Michel Barnier seems to have the same view on immigration as we do. Now, we expect action from him,” she said.
“The leaders from the left refuse to face the reality of the immigration problem. I also stick to Michel Barnier’s proposals during the 2021 Republican primary, many of which were in line with our line.”
Barnier promised that his first priority as prime minister would be to “put a stop to the current immigration” and re-establish the authority of the state.