The “French Solingen” did not remain without political consequences: after a previously convicted for sexual assault, expelled from France but still present in the country, raped and murdered a 19-year-old young lady named Philippine near Paris, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, gave a strong interview on migration.
Retailleau’s words were reviewed by the European Conservatives. Retailleau was the Senate leader of the right-center Republicans party formed by Nicolas Sarkozy before his ministerial appointment, and has always criticized French immigration policy in harsh tones.
IN THE INTERVIEW, HIS MAIN CLAIM WAS THAT HE WOULD INITIATE A REFERENDUM ON IMMIGRATION.
Retailleau said he believes that French society has reached “a point of imbalance where the rules begin to protect dangerous individuals rather than the victims of society.” He emphasized that for him, like millions of French people, immigration cannot be considered an opportunity.
Initiating a referendum on the matter is currently unconstitutional, but in the past, Marine Le Pen’s party, the National Rally (RN), allied with Fidesz, has also made such demands. Retailleau spoke about the legal obstacles and suggested expanding the range of topics that could be subject to referendum, as immigration has had the greatest impact on French society over the past fifty years without the French having the opportunity to express their opinions on it.
The minister also announced further plans to change the legal regulations on immigration: he would once again criminalize illegal stay and allow for a longer detention of deportees. He also questioned the benefits of multiculturalism, stating that “a multicultural society carries the risk of becoming a multiracial society. I phrased it cautiously this time.”
The French left immediately protested against the minister’s statements. Boris Vallaud, the leader of the Socialist Party’s National Assembly faction, asked, “What is the difference here from an RN Minister of the Interior?” His party colleague, MP Jérôme Guedj, said that they did not form a republican front on July 7th to hear words that could have been spoken by Jordan Bardella if he had been elected prime minister. Former government spokesperson under Macron, Prisca Thevenot, believes that those who do not distinguish between illegal and legal immigration are playing into the hands of the RN.
On the French right, there is both enthusiastic and cautious reactions to Retailleau’s words, they believe it when they see it. Marion Maréchal, Marine Le Pen’s niece and MEP for the Reconquest party in the ECR, said on X, “It’s hard not to agree with Bruno Retailleau’s words. The words are certainly comforting, but we are waiting for actions. The next Philippine cannot be saved with just interviews!”
