France's Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, accused the far-right National Rally party of a "big fraud" regarding their migration policies, stating they only support EU control efforts when politically beneficial.
The comments highlight deep divisions within European politics over migration policy, particularly ahead of key elections, and underscore the differing approaches to border control and asylum management between centrist and far-right parties.
France's Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, has accused the far-right National Rally party led by Jordan Bardella of a "big fraud" regarding their migration policies.
Haddad stated that the National Rally has consistently opposed EU efforts to control migration, only supporting them when it became politically advantageous. He highlighted the party's shift on the EU's Migration and Asylum Pact and the Returns Regulation, which facilitates the deportation of asylum seekers whose requests are denied.
The minister argued that the National Rally's position is hypocritical, pointing to former leader Marine Le Pen's initial strong opposition to the Returns Regulation before voting in favor of it in the European Parliament. Haddad emphasized that France, under Macron, believes in European cooperation to manage complex issues like migration, suggesting that nationalist solutions are insufficient.
He also commented on the controversial aspect of "return hubs" outside the EU for rejected asylum seekers, noting that while France is not part of a core group establishing these, the government views such measures through the lens of efficiency. Haddad affirmed France's support for striking deals with third countries, such as those with Egypt and Tunisia, to manage migration flows, deeming such agreements "absolutely necessary."