Immigration: LR returns to the charge after the attack on Annecy

“Raise the taboo”, “break with a form of naivety”… On the right, the time is on the all-out offensive on the subject of immigration, three days later the drama of Annecy where a Syrian asylum seeker stabbed several people, including small children.

Eric Ciotti, leader of the party, thus asked, in the columns of the “Parisien” to be received by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, after having deplored Thursday, on France 2, “a catastrophic management of asylum in Europe”.

Until now, the leaders of LR had been satisfied to be received by the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, at Matignon, in particular during the episode of the retreats. They now show their clear desire to exert maximum pressure on the Elysée. Even if it means taking public opinion to witness.

Debauchery of proposals

“With Bruno Retailleau and Olivier Marleix, we wrote to him on May 23 and we are surprised not to have had a response. I solemnly ask Emmanuel Macron to receive us to convince him to initiate this reform”, justifies Eric Ciotti to the “Parisian” based in particular on a series of measures defended by LR: an ordinary law proposal recently tabled in Parliament as well as the idea of ​​a “constitutional shield” already formulated in a remarkable interview at the “JDD” last May.

The three main leaders of LR, Olivier Marleix, leader of the deputies, Bruno Retailleau at the head of the majority in the Senate and Eric Ciotti, detailed their project to fight against immigration, in particular the possibility of evading European law. and internationally in this regard. A form of institutional “Frexit” denounced at the time by part of the majority.

Under the jurisdiction of the Head of State

The situation of the author of the stab wounds in Annecy, who ped through Italy and Switzerland before joining France, provides them, according to them, with a new opportunity to stand out. “This is why we are proposing a reform of the Constitution which makes it possible to overcome certain conventional, constitutional or jurisprudential obstacles when ‘the fundamental interests of the nation’ are at stake, insists Eric Ciotti. If this proposal of the Republicans were submitted to the French by referendum, it would collect a huge majority. Today, only the president can call this referendum. »

For the time being, Eric Ciotti’s entourage declines to have received any response from the castle even if the Elysée, when asked, underlines that “the President has initiated work at his level, concerning institutional reform, with the President of the Senate and the President of the National embly. It is within this framework that the country’s political forces will be consulted”.

“When the time comes, the Republicans will also be able to present their constitutional proposals in general and in particular on this subject”, seemed to confirm Elisabeth Borne, questioned on Sunday on France 3. The tenant of Matignon, on borrowed time, does not intend to close any doors and repeats wanting to work with all Republican opposition, text by text.

“The majority is missing a line”

Except that, in the event of a bill in the fall, the executive can only count on the votes of LR to hope to have its text voted on. “The President of the Republicans asks the President of the Republic to be received, it is legitimate”, recognizes for his part, François Bayrou, this Sunday, at the microphone of the “Grand rendez-vous” Europe 1 – CNews – “Les Echos “.

“We have played card on the table with our proposals. On immigration, the majority lacks a line, believes for her part Anne-Laure Blin, LR deputy for Maine-et-Loire. The least we can say is that it is not the clarity that suffocates them. »

As for knowing whether a hypothetical interview at the Elysée, excluding institutional reform, would lead to a republican consensus on this question… At this time, the right seems to prefer to place the majority in front of its contradictions rather than forge any agreement, costly for it politically .