The French parliament has passed a bill restricting birthright citizenship in Mayotte, sparking strong criticism from left-wing parties who argue it discriminates against local populations.
The French parliament has passed a bill that restricts birthright citizenship in Mayotte, its overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, triggering strong criticism from left-wing parties who argue the law discriminates against local populations.
The legislation, which was adopted definitively on Tuesday, modifies the birthright citizenship rules for children born in Mayotte. While birthright citizenship, or jus soli, remains unchanged for the rest of France, this bill tightens the requirements for Mayotte, which has seen significant immigration from its neighboring Comoros Islands.
Previously, a child born in Mayotte to foreign parents could acquire French nationality from the age of 13, provided they had lived in France for a certain period. However, since 2018, additional conditions were imposed in Mayotte.
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Children born there had to have at least one parent who had legally resided in the territory for at least three months at the time of birth.
Under the new bill, both parents must have legally lived in Mayotte for at least one year before their child can apply for French nationality, with exceptions for single parents.
This measure is seen as a response to the significant migration from Comoros, with many people arriving irregularly in search of better economic opportunities.
The bill was proposed by Philippe Gosselin, a lawmaker from the right-wing Republican party, who argued that the prospect of obtaining French nationality is a major driver of irregular migration to Mayotte.
However, the bill has sparked a backlash from critics, especially left-wing parties. Dominique Voynet, a Green Party member of parliament, condemned the law, warning that it could mark the end of birthright citizenship in France. “Mayotte is about to become a laboratory for the ideas of the far-right,” she said.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, echoed similar sentiments, claiming that the new law did not go far enough and advocating for a nationwide ban on birthright citizenship.
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Mayotte, with a population of around 320,000, has one of the highest rates of foreign-born residents in France. A 2019 study found that nearly half the population was foreign, with a significant portion born on the island.
The bill now heads to the Senate for final approval. While Prime Minister François Bayrou has called for a national debate on immigration and the future of citizenship in France, right-wing figures, including Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, have indicated that they want to see broader changes to France’s constitution regarding birthright citizenship.
