The head of government “is wary of the effects of the announcements and wants to treat the subject of immigration seriously,” his services said. “On the method, as well as the contours of this policy very important to the French, he is thinking of the most efficient means of obtaining results,” we added.
A ministry created in 2007
A little earlier, Franceinfo had said that Mr Barnier was considering “restoring a ministry of Immigration”, a title that has not existed in the government since 2010. The Ministry of Immigration – and “national identity”, according to the title at the time – was created in 2007 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. Its two holders were Brice Hortefeux then Eric Besson.
Barely appointed, Mr Barnier on Friday cited “controlling migratory flows” among his priorities. In late 2021, in his campaign for the Republican primary for the 2022 presidential election, he defended very strong positions on the subject, notably proposing a “moratorium” on immigration and tightening the criteria for family reunification.
Strong reactions
The hypothesis of a resurrection of the immigration ministry on Monday caused sarcasm or indignation on the left: “Without a doubt, it is the humanist tower expected by the French mobilized on the republican front”, joked on X the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier. Faure.
Such a project would have revealed the “dividends paid to the RN” by Mr. Barnier, commented on the same social network the elected environmentalist group and former rebel Clémentine Autain, referring to the far-right party's promise not to censor a priori the new government.
Even Stella Dupont, from the left wing of the outgoing Macronist majority, was outraged: “Start strong! Is it a priority at this time and in the context? If necessary, it's a great idea to bring together… the far right! “, she exclaimed.