Abolition of 'Birthright Citizenship' for French Nationality if Far-Right Wins

Jordan Bardella, a figure from France's far-right party, announced that if this party wins the parliamentary elections, the 'birthright citizenship' law, which is used to obtain French nationality, will be abolished. He may become Prime Minister if the far-right party wins the upcoming parliamentary elections. Bardella stated on Friday, June 15, to French media that in this case, in the first weeks of his term, he would present a new law regarding immigration, stricter border control, and the expulsion of certain foreigners to Parliament. He emphasized that the 'birthright citizenship' law, which allows foreign individuals born in France to apply for French nationality after the age of eighteen, would be immediately abolished. This law has been part of French civil law since the 19th century and has been implemented. Many who have benefited from this law later became prominent figures in their fields. Zinedine Zidane, a former footballer, and Charles Aznavour and Serge Gainsbourg, prominent 20th-century French singers, are among these individuals. Macron urged the French to make the 'right choice' in the early elections. While the population growth rate in France has significantly decreased in recent years, about ten percent of births in France fall under this law. This far-right figure claimed that such a decision is the 'priority of the French people.' Bardella, who has Italian ancestry, grew up in a working-class suburb of Paris and often states that he is familiar with the concerns of the French regarding declining purchasing power, increasing immigration, and insecurity. Following the rise in votes for the far-right party in the European Parliament elections, Emmanuel Macron, the President, announced on June 10 in a televised speech that after conducting the consultations outlined in Article 12 of the Constitution, he decided to dissolve the French Parliament and hold a new vote, returning the choice of the next Parliament to the French people. With Macron's signing of the decree for early parliamentary elections, the first round will be held on June 30 and the second round on July 7. Bardella had previously attacked Macron's government regarding immigration policies, claiming, 'I believe all crimes and offenses are related to the government's inability to control immigration flows.' The birthright law is one of the ways for foreigners to access French nationality. To use this law, an individual must have resided in France upon reaching the legal age and must have lived in France for at least five years from the age of eleven, whether continuously or intermittently. Additionally, a person born in France to foreign parents who were also born in France receives nationality at birth, a right known as 'double jus soli.' Furthermore, the 'jus sanguinis' law regarding French nationality is implemented, meaning that a person born to at least one French parent, regardless of their place of birth, will be French.