Valérie Hayer, a member of the European Parliament from the Renaissance party and head of the Renew group, participated in a public meeting for the European elections at the Besançon Congress Center on April 5, 2024. The debate was supposed to focus on defending the European track record of the presidential camp on immigration but turned into a trap. Invited to debate with Marion Maréchal, the head of the Reconquest party, on CNews on April 8, Valérie Hayer emphasized the border control aspect of the migration and asylum pact. This set of texts, set to be voted on during a mini-session on April 10 in Brussels, is presented by the president of the Renew group in Parliament as a “firm” and “humane” response to the migration challenge. While Hayer criticized Marion Maréchal’s project of a “naval military blockade,” she seemed to appreciate the support of part of the extreme right in Europe, highlighting Georgia Meloni’s backing of the migration and asylum pact.
Valérie Hayer denounced Marion Maréchal’s proposed military naval blockade, questioning what would happen when boats arrive and whether they would shoot at people. She also mentioned the support of far-right European leaders for the migration and asylum pact, contrasting her position with that of her interlocutor, who is associated with the neo-fascist movement. Marion Maréchal, on the other hand, outlined her objectives of dismantling smuggling networks, intercepting boats, and returning them to their countries of origin, which Hayer deemed to be aligned with the provisions of the migration and asylum pact. Hayer had previously given an interview to promote the pact, where she addressed concerns about a potential “migratory submersion” with reassurance that there would not be an increase in migrants in France.
There were internal disagreements within the campaign team regarding the focus on immigration in the media coverage. The spokesperson for Renaissance emphasized the need to provide alternative perspectives to the “fantasies and caricatures” promoted by far-right parties like the RN and Reconquête. The upcoming media appearances and events were seen as opportunities for Valérie Hayer to address the stance of the RN against the asylum and migration pact while contrasting with the position of socialist candidate Raphaël Glucksmann, who opposes the pact despite the support of his party in Brussels. The campaign aims to position Hayer as a strong advocate for a balanced and thoughtful approach to migration issues.
The political dynamics surrounding the migration and asylum pact highlighted the differing positions of various parties and candidates in the lead-up to the European elections. The RN’s opposition to the pact was framed as detrimental to European cooperation on migration issues, with accusations of prioritizing profit over human life. Conversely, the Socialist candidate’s opposition to the pact was portrayed as a regression into ideological clichés, contrasting with his previous efforts to distance the left from dogmatic stances. The campaign strategies of each party and candidate were designed to differentiate their approaches to immigration policy and appeal to voters based on their positions on the pact. Hayer’s participation in public debates and media interviews aimed to showcase her party’s stance on migration as pragmatic and humane, in contrast to the polarized narratives of other parties.
