Édouard Philippe faces backlash over immigration remarks

French presidential candidate Édouard Philippe is facing significant criticism following his assertions that individuals of immigrant background are « overrepresented » among those involved in looting during recent protests. His comments, made in several media appearances, have drawn comparisons to far-right discourse. Supporters of his political party have defended these statements by citing statistics on arrests. As part of his electoral platform, the former Prime Minister aims to halve legal immigration if elected, proposing stricter rules on family reunification and the revision of the 1968 treaty with Algeria. He advocates for a « chosen and controlled » labor-based immigration policy and suggests reinstating a mandatory national service to better transmit republican values and address long-standing integration challenges.