Overview

• Prime Minister François Bayrou described immigration as provoking a 'feeling of submersion,' a term associated with far-right rhetoric, during a televised interview on January 27.
• Bayrou's remarks have drawn criticism from the Socialist Party, which has threatened to halt budget negotiations unless he retracts the term, though he has refused to do so.
• The controversy comes as immigration remains a polarizing issue in France, with recent polls showing 65% of French respondents believe there are 'too many foreigners' in the country.
• While Bayrou has rejected far-right measures like ending jus soli or holding a referendum on immigration, his comments have emboldened the Rassemblement National, which now plays a pivotal role in ongoing budget discussions.
• The Socialist Party faces internal divisions over whether to formally censure Bayrou's government, while the RN has introduced new demands tied to budget approval, complicating negotiations further.