The candidates and immigration: birthright, AME, referendum

Immigration is one of the topics on which the eleven candidates are most sharply opposed. The last major law, "to control immigration and improve integration", dates from January 2024; the Conseil constitutionnel struck down part of it, mostly because many articles added during the debate had no link with the original bill (decision no. 2023-863 DC). In 2025 a law restricted birthright citizenship in Mayotte. Several candidates want to go further, sometimes by referendum, which would require amending Article 11 of the Constitution, which does not currently allow a referendum on this subject (Constitution).

The test asks about these issues under the topic "Immigration". Six statements are in the main test; two more, on halving legal immigration and on expulsion after a year of unemployment, are asked only as tie-breakers, when the result is close. Below are the positions of all eleven candidates, each based on a programme, a statement or a vote. An asterisk (*) marks an estimated position: the candidate has not addressed the question directly, and the position is inferred from what they have said elsewhere. This topic has the most: 14 of the 66 main-test positions are estimated, six of them on national priority, an issue most of the candidates who reject it do not address directly.

The candidates' positions

The two tie-break statements are covered further down.

A referendum on immigration

"There should be a referendum on immigration." Five candidates strongly agree, two are neutral and four disagree.

• Marine Le Pen: her 2022 programme pledges a referendum on a constitutional reform on immigration within six months of the election, and the RN's 2024 programme keeps it ("M la France", p. 8).
• Bruno Retailleau pledges to amend the Constitution to widen the use of referendums and to put a comprehensive immigration bill to voters in the first months of his term (JDD, 31 May 2026).
• Éric Zemmour: his 2022 manifesto plans a major referendum on immigration, security and justice, held alongside the parliamentary elections (p. 6).
• David Lisnard proposed in Bayeux to free the referendum from its subject limits, and his programme says "a referendum will be necessary" (Bayeux speech, p. 9).
• Nicolas Dupont-Aignan wants to abolish birthright citizenship by referendum (platform, "Immigration and assimilation").

Édouard Philippe is neutral: he does not rule out a referendum ("if the Constitution has to be changed, the people can"), but prefers to act without amending the Constitution (franceinfo, 8 October 2026). Gabriel Attal's neutral position is estimated: he proposes an annual referendum day, but has not called for a referendum on immigration.

Among those against, Marine Tondelier is the only one with a documented position: in 2023 she said she felt "immense satisfaction" that there would be "no referendum on immigration" (Europe 1). The positions of Raphaël Glucksmann, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Fabien Roussel are estimated: they support citizens' initiative referendums, but their migration policies run counter to what supporters of this referendum want.

Birthright citizenship

"Birthright citizenship ('droit du sol') should be abolished." Today a child born in France to foreign parents can become French, subject to residence conditions. Five candidates agree, six disagree, and every position has a source.

• Marine Le Pen: the RN's 2024 programme includes abolishing birthright citizenship, as did her 2022 programme (p. 4).
• Éric Zemmour: a child of two foreign parents could become French only through naturalisation (2022 manifesto, p. 8).
• Bruno Retailleau: his "charter of republican order", which he wants adopted by referendum, includes "abolishing birthright citizenship" (Le Figaro, 2 September 2026).
• Nicolas Dupont-Aignan wants to abolish it by referendum, keeping naturalisation (platform).
• David Lisnard agrees without going to the end of the scale: his programme proposes "ending the automatic nature of birthright citizenship" (Nouvelle Énergie).

Against, Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to "guarantee full birthright citizenship" and restore it throughout the country (L'Avenir en commun, ch. 10); Marine Tondelier wants to end the Mayotte exception (p. 178); Fabien Roussel's party rejects "calling into question the right of soil" (p. 12). Three others "disagree", for different reasons. Raphaël Glucksmann: the Socialist group, allied with his party in the Assembly, voted in 2025 even against the restriction in Mayotte (vote no. 1308), and Place publique's programme says "there is only one category of citizens". Gabriel Attal voted for the Mayotte restriction, but his party rejects abolition in mainland France (Renaissance convention, p. 51). Édouard Philippe only proposes suspending birthright citizenship in Mayotte and says "France must keep making French citizens" (priorities, "For a safer France").

Regularising undocumented workers

"Undocumented workers who have a job should be given legal status." Four candidates agree, seven disagree; eight are at one end of the scale. Every position has a source.

In favour: Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to "regularise workers, students and parents of schoolchildren" (ch. 16), as do the Écologistes' programme of Marine Tondelier (p. 178) and Fabien Roussel's party platform (p. 11). Raphaël Glucksmann agrees: Place publique's programme would make regularisation easier and grant the right to work from the moment an asylum claim is registered (p. 82).

Against, five candidates strongly disagree. Marine Le Pen would suspend all regularisations by prefects (RN 2024 programme, p. 4); Éric Zemmour would permanently ban them for foreigners who entered illegally (p. 8); David Lisnard (programme) and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (platform) would end them and reinstate the offence of illegal residence; Bruno Retailleau calls the idea of regularisation a "capitulation", even to fill labour shortages (JDD). Gabriel Attal (LCI, August 2026) and Édouard Philippe "disagree": they oppose any single Schengen state deciding on mass regularisations, and Édouard Philippe prefers work migration through quotas.

National priority

"Social housing and jobs should go to French citizens first." Today access to social housing cannot depend on nationality for foreigners who are legally resident, nor can access to a job, apart from the jobs that the law reserves for French or EU citizens, such as part of the civil service. Two candidates agree, one is neutral and eight disagree.

Marine Le Pen strongly agrees: her 2022 programme proposes "national priority" for social housing and jobs, and the RN's 2024 programme keeps it, by referendum if needed (22 measures, p. 2). So does Éric Zemmour: his 2022 manifesto reserves social housing for French citizens, and his party backed national preference in hiring in 2024 (p. 44). Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's neutral position is estimated: he does not propose national priority for housing and jobs, but would end non-contributory welfare for foreigners.

Against, three positions are documented. Bruno Retailleau's party wants social housing to go first to people in work, "French or foreign nationals legally resident", but requires five years' residence for benefits ("Better and cheaper housing!", p. 41). The Écologistes' programme of Marine Tondelier wants public services open "without any nationality condition" (p. 87). Fabien Roussel's party platform calls "national preference" "a system of ethnic segregation" (p. 6). The positions of Gabriel Attal, Raphaël Glucksmann, David Lisnard, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Édouard Philippe are estimated: none of them proposes national priority, but they have not addressed it. David Lisnard and Édouard Philippe do, however, want to restrict welfare paid to foreigners.

State medical aid (AME)

"Undocumented migrants should keep access to State medical aid (AME)." The AME covers healthcare for foreigners without legal status who have lived in France for more than three months, subject to means testing. Four candidates agree, one is neutral and six disagree.

In favour: Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to "guarantee access to State Medical Aid" (ch. 16) and Marine Tondelier's programme "access to AME and PUMA" health cover (p. 178). The positions of Raphaël Glucksmann and Fabien Roussel (agree) are estimated: their texts do not mention the AME. Gabriel Attal is neutral: his party's convention proposes reforming the AME along the lines of the Evin-Stefanini report, without abolishing it (p. 54).

Against, five candidates would replace the AME with emergency-only care: Marine Le Pen (RN group counter-budget, p. 7), Éric Zemmour (p. 8), David Lisnard, who expects €700 million of savings (programme), Bruno Retailleau (republicains.fr, November 2025) and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, with one emergency clinic per department (platform). Édouard Philippe's position (disagree) is estimated: he has not spoken about the AME, but wants to align welfare for foreigners with the EU average.

Family reunification

"Family reunification should be suspended." Family reunification allows a foreigner settled legally in France to bring in their spouse and minor children, subject to income and housing conditions. Five candidates agree, one is neutral and five disagree.

• Édouard Philippe strongly agrees: he proposes suspending it for the whole five-year term, as part of his goal of halving immigration (priorities, "For a safer France").
• Éric Zemmour would abolish the right to family reunification (p. 7).
• Marine Le Pen (22 measures, p. 2), Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (platform) and David Lisnard (Nouvelle Énergie) agree without going to the end of the scale: depending on the text, they speak of ending it or strictly limiting it.

Bruno Retailleau is neutral: he wants to reduce it by changing the EU directive, but does not propose suspending it (JDD). Gabriel Attal disagrees: he wants family reunification more tightly regulated and falling, without suspension ("Borders" workstream). Also against are Raphaël Glucksmann, whose 2024 European programme affirmed the "inviolability" of family reunification (measure 242), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (2022 "Migrations" booklet) and Marine Tondelier, who wants to "make the right to family reunification effective" (p. 178). Fabien Roussel's position (disagree) is estimated.

The two tie-break statements

"Legal immigration to France should be halved." Six candidates agree, one is neutral and four disagree, and every position has a source. Édouard Philippe: "We must halve legal immigration, but that does not mean bringing it down to zero" (franceinfo). David Lisnard wants to divide the number of residence permits issued by eight (programme). Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Éric Zemmour also strongly agree; Marine Le Pen and Bruno Retailleau agree, without putting a figure on the cut. Gabriel Attal is neutral: he wants to "welcome fewer to welcome better", with quotas voted by Parliament, but gives no figure ("Borders" workstream). Raphaël Glucksmann, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Fabien Roussel and Marine Tondelier disagree: they want to open legal routes for immigration.

"A foreigner living legally in France should be liable to expulsion after a year of unemployment." Marine Le Pen (RN group counter-budget, p. 7) and Éric Zemmour (Public Sénat, 18 September 2026) strongly agree. Marine Tondelier and Fabien Roussel disagree, with a source; the other seven positions are estimated (one neutral, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's, and six against), because none of these candidates has addressed it.

What separates the candidates

• Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour have almost the same positions (five out of six); they are the only ones who want national priority. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan is close to them, except on that point.
• Bruno Retailleau and David Lisnard share with them the referendum, ending birthright citizenship, rejecting regularisation and ending the AME, but not national priority.
• Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal oppose abolishing birthright citizenship and oppose regularisation; they part ways on family reunification, which Édouard Philippe wants to suspend, more firmly than Bruno Retailleau.
• Raphaël Glucksmann, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Fabien Roussel and Marine Tondelier favour regularisation and the AME and oppose abolishing birthright citizenship and suspending family reunification; several of their positions (referendum, national priority, AME) are estimated.

Who is closest to whom on immigration

To compare the candidates two by two, we added up the gaps between their positions on the six main-test statements (our calculation). Zero would mean identical positions; the maximum is 24. Here are some pairs, from the closest to the furthest apart. Estimated positions count like the others.

On immigration, Marine Le Pen and Bruno Retailleau really differ only on national priority. Bruno Retailleau and Édouard Philippe are further apart (9): birthright citizenship separates them, even though Édouard Philippe goes further than him on family reunification. Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe share four positions, but four of their positions, on three statements, are estimated. The furthest apart are Marine Tondelier and Éric Zemmour (23 out of 24); Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon are at least three points apart on all six statements.

The six statements on the topic count towards the social axis of the political compass. On immigration alone, Éric Zemmour (+100), Marine Le Pen (+91.7) and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (+75) are the most conservative, followed by David Lisnard and Bruno Retailleau (+58.3); Édouard Philippe (+16.7) and Gabriel Attal (−16.7) are on either side of the centre; Raphaël Glucksmann (−58.3), Fabien Roussel (−75), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (−83.3) and Marine Tondelier (−91.7) are on the progressive side (our calculation, applying the compass formula to the six statements).

Further reading

• All the statements on the topic, with sources: "Immigration".
• The candidates' positions on every statement in the test: candidate comparison.
• Compare two candidates, for example Marine Le Pen and Bruno Retailleau, Bruno Retailleau and Édouard Philippe, Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal or Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
• On Schengen and the primacy of French law: "The candidates and Europe".
• Candidate pages: Gabriel Attal, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Raphaël Glucksmann, Marine Le Pen, David Lisnard, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Édouard Philippe, Bruno Retailleau, Fabien Roussel, Marine Tondelier, Éric Zemmour.
• Find out which candidate you are closest to across all topics: take the test.