The leading centrist candidate in France’s 2027 presidential race has unveiled more details of his programme, including a vow to halve legal migration.
Edouard Philippe of the centrist Horizons party is currently among the favourites for the 2027 presidential election, and on Thursday evening he gave a TV interview in which he laid out his policy programme in more detail.
Philippe, formerly prime minister under Emmanual Macron and now mayor of Le Havre, spoke about the budget, social benefits, students protests – and immigration.
He told France 2’s evening politics show: “We have to admit that immigration is too high.
“We must halve legal immigration, but that does not mean reducing it to zero.”
When it came to details of how he intends to do this, there was very little substance, but he said the policy should favour “immigration for work”.
He also said that the government should “tackle family reunification” – a policy that would potentially affect anyone on the vie privée visa or carte de séjour, a type commonly used by people with a French or European spouse, among other groups.
Since his aim seems to be slowing new migration, it seems likely that any proposed changes would concentrate on the visa system for new arrivals, prioritising the two types of work visa over other types. The Local has requested further clarification on his policy.
Philippe also refused to rule out holding a national referendum on immigration, a favoured policy of Marine Le Pen, who currently leads the polls.