Overview

• The French Parliament is set to adopt a law requiring both parents in Mayotte to reside in France for at least one year for their child to gain automatic citizenship, with exceptions for single-parent families.
• This legislation, supported by Les Républicains and the government, aims to address irregular migration and overpopulation in Mayotte, exacerbated by Cyclone Chido's devastation in December 2024.
• Critics, including left-wing lawmakers, argue the measure violates equality principles and plan to challenge it before the Constitutional Council.
• La France Insoumise announced a counterproposal to enshrine the right of soil in the French Constitution, asserting that birthright citizenship is a foundational principle of the nation.
• The debate highlights deep political divisions in France, with right-leaning factions advocating stricter controls and left-wing groups defending inclusive citizenship policies.