In major cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux, among many others, demonstrators braved low temperatures on the first of two consecutive Sundays with demonstrations against the rule, which has not yet been put into effect by President Emmanuel Macron pending the opinion of the Constitutional Council, scheduled for January 25th.
For a few hours, flags and banners, called for by dozens of social organizations and trade unions, dominated French soil.
The marches were full of criticism of the government and racist justifications for the regulation passed on December 19, after an agreement was reached between the ruling party and the Conservatives, who negotiated the text to their advantage to toughen immigration treatment.
Next Sunday's mobilization is expected to be even larger and will be promoted by several unions, including the country's two largest: the French Democratic Confederation of Trade Unions (CFDT) and the General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT).
According to various sources, the aim of the protests is to denounce a law that attacks the principles of solidarity, freedom, equality and fraternity proposed by France and to pressure the Constitutional Council to declare the initiative as contrary to Magna Carta unlikely , although this site may censor some articles.
The text sparks controversy as it is seen by the far right as an ideological victory, with measures such as charging a security deposit for foreign students to enter universities in France.
It also limits family reunification, the legalization of undocumented workers, and support for those who are legally present, such as housing, and calls for reform of government medical assistance for “undocumented people,” a benefit that want to abolish the rights.
These Sundays were the first marches that the new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has faced since he took office last Tuesday.
ode/wmr