MACRON’S VICTORY BRINGS HOPE TO FRANCE – The agenda for migration of the new French president

Emmanuel Macron won his extreme-right opponent Marin Lepen in the second round of presidential elections in France, accumulating 65.9% of the vote against 34.1% for the leader of the National Front.

Macron’s dominance was the second “crash test” for the European Union, after Mark Rude’s dominance at the last Dutch elections. In both elections, the majority of citizens voted for democracy and Europe, rejecting the uprising nationalism.

The victory of Macron is also important with regards to the migration agenda, which played a key role in this electoral campaign. Macron and Lepen expressed had different pre-election approaches to that issue.

Marie Lepen suggested the following measures: taxation on the recruitment of a foreign worker the abolition of the right to nationality due to habitation and the abolition of social benefits for immigrants and foreigners. For Lepen, immigrants are a threat to France. She also proposed to reduce the number of people entering France by 10 000 per year, aiming to “restore the French identity”, which was “destroyed by immigrants”.

On the other hand, Emmanuel Macron, who eventually elected, spoke for a France that is “open” and “faithful to its values”. He believes that France “must take over its responsibilities” in the reception of migrants and strengthen cooperation with Europe on this issue. He believes immigration, especially the reception of foreign students, is “an opportunity and a pride”.