French presidential candidate Edouard Philippe has publicly rejected a proposal for a complete moratorium on legal immigration put forward by Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin. Speaking on Saturday, August 29, the former prime minister insisted that France must remain open to international students and foreign workers.
The refusal directly counters a key proposal from Darmanin, who endorsed Philippe for the 2027 presidential election earlier in August while calling on him to take a firmer stance on border control.
Philippe announced his opposition during a debate with former Socialist President Francois Hollande in Sens, located in the Yonne department. The discussion was organized by the Laboratoire de la Republique think tank and broadcast on news channel LCI. During the event, the Horizons party leader stated that there would be no moratorium on foreign students or employment-based immigration, which he said France needs.
The candidate was responding to a proposal for a three-year moratorium on legal immigration introduced in May by Darmanin, who serves as France's Minister of Justice, or keeper of the seals. Although Darmanin announced his backing for Philippe in mid-August, he explicitly urged the mayor of Le Havre to adopt a tougher line on migration issues.
Disagreement over policy direction
Speaking to journalists after the debate, Philippe played down suggestions of a political rift, describing the situation as a distinction in approach rather than a fundamental divergence. He acknowledged that Darmanin was correct to advocate for a firmer national migration policy.
To illustrate his own commitment to border control, Philippe pointed to previous policy suggestions he had made concerning Mayotte, a French overseas territory facing significant immigration pressure. He also recalled his proposal for a Schengen lock to secure European borders following a migration crisis at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.
However, the former prime minister clarified that his small point of difference involves maintaining entry routes for qualified foreign nationals. He confirmed that France will continue to grant residence permits to international students and workers with essential skills, noting that no one had ever convinced him that foreign-trained doctors seeking to practice in France should be turned away.
Upcoming meeting in Tourcoing
The public debate comes immediately before a scheduled joint political appearance by both figures in northern France. The two men are set to meet on Sunday in Tourcoing, a city in the Nord department that serves as Darmanin's political stronghold.
Philippe is attending the gathering as the featured guest for Darmanin's annual political return meeting. The event marks their first major encounter since Philippe rejected the proposed immigration freeze.
