The National Assembly of France will soon vote on a plan that grants amnesty to undocumented workers in the country. This proposal is presented by the Socialist Party and led by Paul Christophe, aiming to provide legal status to 300,000 to 400,000 undocumented migrants who have been working in France for more than six months.
Support for the Amnesty Plan
The vote on this plan is likely to receive support from leftist representatives, particularly from Raphael Glucksmann, the center-left electoral candidate. Glucksmann seeks to highlight his differences from moderate rivals like Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe, as well as other competitors from the radical left like Jean-Luc Mélenchon. He has supported this plan in several interviews.
Political and Social Impacts
Paul Christophe references the successes of Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, in this plan, stating that he “has chosen to provide foreign citizens with legal means for residence and work” instead of unsuccessful attempts to control migration flows. Earlier this year, Spain granted legal status to half a million undocumented migrants who could prove they had lived in the country for at least five months.
However, opponents of this plan from center-right and far-right groups are likely to block its approval. Nevertheless, Glucksmann's campaign hopes that this proposal will reveal the gap between representatives supporting Emmanuel Macron and voters who elected him in 2022. Some of these voters hold more progressive views on migration issues.
Discussion on migration could be an effective way for Glucksmann to distinguish himself from his center-right rival, Édouard Philippe, who believes that amnesty plans should be contingent on an agreement at the European level. This could help attract Macron voters who oppose a closed society.
According to recent polls, 29% of those who voted for Macron in 2022 intend to vote for Raphael Glucksmann in the upcoming elections, while 49% lean towards Édouard Philippe. Glucksmann is currently projected to receive 13% of the total votes.
The vote on this plan will take place on November 19.
