French left wants to give electoral rights to immigrants without citizenship

In fresh weeks on social media There's been comments from netizens, raising concerns about "politicising electoral law" and giving voice to foreigners residing in France without legal status. Although there is no authoritative law that already grants electoral rights to illegal immigrants, the debate on extending voting rights to "non-citizens" has been returning in France for years, mainly through left-wing and liberal groups, which see it as a step towards gaining a lasting electoral advantage over the right.

The French left wants to give electoral rights to immigrants without citizenship. In accordance with the French government in force, the right to vote and to be elected is granted to citizens of France, as well as citizens of the European Union countries in local and European elections after certain conditions of residence have been fulfilled. Non-EU citizens (i.e. "third countries") present do not have the right to vote in any elections, even local ones.

Nevertheless, there is simply a public debate about extending voting rights to non-EU foreigners surviving in France for many years. A decade ago, socialist parties proposed granting specified rights to foreigners for local elections, but these ideas met with strong opposition from the centre-right and were not implemented. In 2022 a MP from Prime Minister Macron's group submitted a draft to extend electoral law to all foreigners (not only from the EU) in local elections, but the draft did not win the majority in parliament.

Supporters of the extension of voting rights argue that long-term people surviving in a given place — even if they are not citizens — have the right to influence local politics due to the fact that their lives and obligations (e.g. taxes, the usage of public services) are profoundly linked to local politics. This approach meets the typical left-wing integration demands and the "inclusive" imagination of democracy.

Critics — and they dominate public opinion focused on defending state sovereignty — point out that electoral law is simply a fundamental part of citizenship and should not be extended automatically to persons without formal state ties or full civilian rights. The extension of this right to immigrants without citizenship can be seen as a way to change the political power arrangement, especially erstwhile left-wing parties consider specified people to be their natural electorate, through which they will win each, subsequent election.

Leftover will lead to terrible wars in Europe

The legal committee of the French Parliament adopted a draft law granting foreigners outside the EU the right to vote and to stand as candidates in local elections.

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Concerns that electoral law for foreigners would service as a tool for "proving fresh left-wing voters" are politically justified. In most public debates and political analyses, it is left-wing and liberal parties that are more inclined to support the extension of electoral rights to non-citizens. Moreover, these parties frequently formulate inclusive rhetoric, emphasizing cultural pluralism and the integration of migrants as part of an electoral strategy, which can attract the voices of these communities or their sympathizers.

This makes specified proposals seen by any commentators and opponents of ideas not only as a democratic or inclusive issue, but as a strategical political movement for the left.

The majority of French people are in favour of maintaining the position quo or even a more restrictive migration policy, as shown by polls and increasing support for nationalist political groups, emphasising border protection and prioritising citizens' access to public services.

Although current French law does not grant voting rights to people without citizenship, the debate on extending political rights for foreigners has been coming back for years. The left-wing proposals — peculiarly if they align the electoral position of citizens and persons with irregular residence — undermine the fundamental principles of citizenship and democratic sovereignty. The arguments about "new electorates" for the left are not conspiracy theories, but cold political calculations.

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