French immigration bill approved by parliament but remains uncertain

France is facing a crucial moment in immigration reform as a bill approved by both houses of parliament hangs in the balance. The bill received support from far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN), leading to its clearance in the Senate and the National Assembly. However, a previous draft was rejected when far-right, far-left, and moderate parties united against it. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his desire not to owe his victory to the RN and called for a meeting with his party members at the Elysee palace. During the meeting, he announced his decision to submit the bill to a new reading rather than let it become law with RN support. The government faced a crisis when opposition MPs voted against the previous draft, prompting a redraft that made the bill tougher as demanded by right-wing parties. Le Pen claimed this redraft as an "ideological victory" for her party. Notable changes in the bill include making housing benefit available only to foreigners who have resided in France for five years if unemployed and three months if employed. It also seeks to make it more challenging to bring family members to France, along with a ban on holding minors in administrative detention. Right-wing leaders have praised the changes, with Eric Ciotti, leader of the right-wing Republican party, stating that it is "firm and courageous." However, left-wing politicians expressed disappointment, accusing Macron of enabling the far right. Socialist party leader Olivier Faure expressed disbelief that Macron, who was once seen as a barrier against the far right, has now become its enabler. Sacha Houlié, an MP aligned with the left of Macron's party, voted against the bill. Macron's centrist Renaissance party lost its parliamentary majority in the June 2022 elections, leaving the government frequently unable to secure votes in parliament.