Emergency law: The subject of immigration takes precedence over the reconstruction of Mayotte

Addressed in the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, this Monday, the emergency lawsupposed to respond to the consequences of the cyclone Desire, quickly turned into a debate of ideas on immigration.

From the start, the government had suggested that the text could be amended on the subject of immigration which was then completely foreign to it. Car lhe emergency law, cog in the “Mayotte standing” plan unveiled by François Bayrou on December 30, porte in large majority on the relaxed rules to speed up construction in an area crossed by the cyclone Desire, on December 14, and before tropical storm Dikeledi which hit the south harder, Sunday January 12. But, this Monday, it is more the theme that has fascinated us in recent days, politics, which has quickly come to the fore. Alongside Manuel Valls, Minister of Overseas, Estelle Youssouffa was the first to regret a text “mute” on immigration. “Our island is not capable to ensure vital needs and fundamental rights of all French nationals from Mayotte. Nor can it accommodate more foreigners”, considers the member of the first constituency of Mayotte, who called back a few minutes earlier “the extreme denouement and precariousness in which almost all households in Mayotte are plunged”.“The “Mayotte Debout” plan does not resolve not to resolve the old equation of illegally settled populations”, adds his colleague from the second constituency, AnchyaBamana. “Illegal immigration weighs on all aspects of the daily life of our Mahorese compatriots”, agrees Manuel Valls. In addition to the migration issue itself, the absence of measures to prevent the reconstruction of slums (which was carried out quickly) was also pointed out. Philippe Gosselin, deputy for Les Républicains de la Manche, also regretted that he did not There is nothing against the construction of sheet metal huts.

On the left, Aurélien Taché (La France insoumise) spoke of the relationship with the Comoros, where the majority of immigrants to Mayotte come from. “It is by setting up legal immigration routes to France, a real development aid policy for the Comoros that we can address the migration issue”, he declares, provoking the anger of Estelle Youssouffa. “We have no water, no electricity, nothing to eat, and you find a way to justify illegal immigration”, replies the Mahorese parliamentarian.

An annual report of the public establishment

But there was also a question of construction during the hearing. Arousing the distrust of local elected officials, several amendments aimed at the creation of the public establishment responsible for the reconstruction of Mayotte. The first one which was adopted, tabled by the government, also confirms the fact that it is “of a new entity which, in addition to the missions currently carried out by the public land and development establishment of Mayotte (EPFAM), will be entrusted with a global mission of coordinating and carrying out the reconstruction work of Mayotte”. Another tabled by the rapporteur establishes the annual publication of an activity report “which reports on the nature, cost and financing arrangements of operations carried out within the framework of its missions”. Another provision establishes parity in representation between the government and the Mahorese communities.

Regarding Mayotte schools, Dominique Voynet, the former director of the Mayotte Regional Health Agency, passed an amendment aimed at “build better: stronger of course, but also more durable and resilient in the face of global warming and future disasters which will be repeatednt”. And if the construction rules are simplified, an amendment to article 4 nevertheless provides that “lhe plot management of rainwater is integrated into the new technical rules to which new constructions and works are subject” to respond to the water crisis. While seven articles (out of 22) were discussed on Monday, the commission was to resume its work this Tuesday evening.

After its examination in committee, the text will be debated in the hemicycle from Monday January 20. It will be from February 3 in the Senate.