Overview

• Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has proposed ending automatic French nationality for children born in France to foreign parents, suggesting they must actively apply for citizenship at a later age.
• Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau supports the proposal, emphasizing the need for assimilation and adherence to French values and principles, but his comments have sparked accusations of xenophobia and racism.
• Opposition figures, including former President François Hollande and members of the left-wing parties, argue that the proposed changes undermine republican principles and cater to far-right rhetoric.
• Marine Le Pen of the Rassemblement National has called for a referendum to abolish birthright citizenship entirely, framing it as a long-standing issue requiring direct public input.
• The proposal has caused divisions within the Macron government, with figures like Prime Minister François Bayrou advocating for a broader debate on French identity, while others, including Economy Minister Eric Lombard, oppose altering existing laws.