After student murder, France heeds far-right party’s call to be tougher on immigration

Marine Le Pen’s RN party, which acquired kingmaker status after a July election, accused the state of being too soft on security

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Razor-wire frames migrants who walk near train tracks which lead to the Channel Tunnel in Frethun, near Calais, France. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:15pm, 25 Sep 2024

France’s new government is open to toughening immigration laws, it indicated on Wednesday, under pressure from the far-right National Rally (RN) after the arrest of a male Moroccan suspect in the murder of a 19-year-old female student in Paris.

Marine Le Pen’s RN party has said in past weeks it reserved the right to withdraw its tacit backing for Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s cabinet if its concerns over immigration and other issues were not addressed, saying the fate of the government was in its hands.

“It’s time for this government to act: our compatriots are angry and will not be content with just words,” RN chief Jordan Bardella said on Tuesday evening of the murder of Philippine, 19, accusing the state of being too soft on security.

“Philippine’s life was stolen from her by a Moroccan migrant targeted by an OQTF (obligation to leave France),” he said on social media platform X.

Marine Le Pen (right) and Jordan Bardella of France’s far-right National Rally, which acquired kingmaker status by signalling support for a new coalition between centrists and conservatives after a July election. Photo: AFP

Marine Le Pen’s RN party acquired kingmaker status by signalling support for a new coalition between centrists and conservatives, after a July election in which President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government suffered heavy losses.