France unveils plan to curtail right to French citizenship in Mayotte

French authorities have unveiled a proposal to modify the constitution, revoking birthplace citizenship on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. The rationale behind this move is the belief that it would address an immigration crisis. Interior minister Gérald Darmanin announced the reform during his visit to the island, which is considered the country’s poorest department, following three weeks of protests.

Critics of the law say this is an assault on French values

“We are going to make a decisive decision,” Darmanin declared. “Becoming French will no longer be possible unless you are the offspring of a French parent,” he asserted, underlining that the intention is to diminish the “attractiveness” of the archipelago for potential immigrants. Darmanin specified that this drastic measure would be exclusive to the Mayotte archipelago.

Presently, France confers citizenship based on both lineage and place of birth. The proposal has the potential to escalate tensions in France, especially in the aftermath of a recently enacted immigration law. Mayotte consists of two islands that opted to remain part of France in 1973, while others in the neighbouring Muslim-majority archipelago pursued independence, forming the Comoros Islands.

Critics on the left have said the new plan is an assault on French values, while some local advocates in Mayotte have welcomed it. Political leaders on the right and far right swiftly suggested extending the measure to encompass the entire country. In Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou, Darmanin and his delegation were met with several hundred protesters expressing discontent with boos and chants of “Mayotte is angry.”

Boris Vallaud, leader of the Socialists in the National Assembly, declared their opposition to the constitutional revision, asserting, “Birthright citizenship is not negotiable.”

Manon Aubry from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party strongly criticized the decision, stating that President Emmanuel Macron’s administration was “attacking the very concept of nationality, the foundation of the Republic.”

French campaign group SOS Racisme condemned the move, describing it as “a particularly spectacular calling into question of the principle of equality.”

Centrist MP Aurelien Tache expressed concerns, warning that if this provision is implemented and Marine Le Pen assumes power, it could spell the end of birthright citizenship in France.

Other politicians are welcoming the idea

Eric Ciotti, leader of the right-wing Republicans party, welcomed Darmanin’s proposed reform but voiced dissatisfaction, posting on X that the situation in Mayotte could have repercussions for mainland France in the future. He argued that the measure should be applied to the entire French territory.

Sebastien Chenu, spokesperson for Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of abolishing birthright citizenship not only in Mayotte but throughout France. He suggested that achieving this goal would require a referendum and a constitutional revision.

Marion Marechal, Le Pen’s niece and member of the far-right “Reconquete” group, applauded the announcement, stating “Bravo for finally recognizing evidence which should have been put on the table for more than ten years now.” Like others, she argued that the measure should be extended to encompass all of France.

Illegal migrantion to Mayotte from neighbouring Comoros

Mayotte, located northwest of Madagascar, attained full-fledged French department status in 2011. The island sees a significant influx of Comorans each year, seeking refuge from poverty and corruption, contributing to tensions in Mayotte due to concerns about crime, poverty, and an ongoing migration crisis. Protests against insecurity and the migration situation have persisted for weeks, aggravated by a prolonged water crisis.

France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) estimates the island’s population at around 310,000 people, although officials believe this figure is notably underestimated. INSEE reports that over 40% of Mayotte’s inhabitants survive on less than €160 (£137) per month, and nearly half of the residents lack French nationality.

Residence permits granted to foreign arrivals in Mayotte are limited to the island and cannot be used for travel to mainland France. The protesters’ demands include the elimination of this restriction, a change that Interior Minister Darmanin indicated would be part of the proposed reforms, receiving support from some demonstrators.

France citizenship legislation has undergone significant tightening over the years. In December, the French parliament passed a stringent immigration bill, influenced by right-wing pressures. In January, France’s top constitutional authority censured controversial amendments made at the insistence of the right.