France's Immigration Reforms: Macron's Defense and Political Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron defended a bill to toughen immigration laws despite an embarrassing parliamentary vote that aligned his ruling alliance with Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement national party. The bill's adoption could boost Le Pen's party ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections. Macron plans to refer the bill to the Constitutional Council for checks on its constitutionality. The bill includes measures such as migration quotas, making it harder for immigrants' children to become French citizens, and delaying migrants' access to welfare benefits. The bill has caused unease among Macron's left-leaning lawmakers, with some abstaining or voting against it.