Bruno Retailleau proposes abolishing birthright citizenship via referendum

Bruno Retailleau, the presidential candidate for Les Républicains, has announced his intention to abolish 'droit du sol' (birthright citizenship) through a national referendum. He argued that such a reform would likely face judicial opposition if not directly validated by the French people.

Retailleau stated that if elected, he intends to revise the Constitution to expand the range of subjects eligible for referendum, specifically targeting migration and criminal justice policies. He aims to submit two specific legislative texts to a public vote: one to reduce immigration and another to implement a stricter penal policy.

Comparing his proposal to existing policies in Mayotte, Retailleau argued that French nationality should be the result of will and assimilation rather than occurring 'by chance' or automatically. He emphasized that the French people should have the final say in defining the nation's migration policy.