In a surprising turn of events, the French parliament has voted down President Emmanuel Macron's flagship immigration bill, prompting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to offer his resignation over what he called a "failure". However, Macron has rejected Darmanin's resignation and instead tasked him with finding alternative solutions to overcome the deadlock and push the legislation forward.

The lower-house National Assembly made a stunning move by adopting a motion to reject the controversial immigration bill without even debating it. The bill, originally proposed by Macron's centrist government, sought to implement measures to expel undocumented individuals and enhance migrant integration. However, over time, the bill has leaned more towards enforcement, particularly after passing through the Senate, which is controlled by the right.

Darmanin passionately defended the bill during the National Assembly session, urging lawmakers not to vote for the rejection motion put forward by the Greens. Despite his efforts, the motion was ultimately backed by a slim margin of 270 votes to 265, resulting in the interruption of the examination of the legislation's numerous proposed amendments.

While Darmanin described it as a "failure," Marine Le Pen, a far-right figurehead, expressed her delight, claiming that the rejection protected the French from what she called a "migratory tidal wave." On the other hand, hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon declared that this outcome marked the end of the road for Darmanin and his proposed law.

The bill, if passed, would have expedited asylum application procedures, regularized the status of undocumented workers in sectors experiencing labor shortages, and facilitated the expulsion of foreigners deemed dangerous. It also aimed to introduce an annual quota for migrant arrivals, to be determined by parliament, and to limit medical coverage for undocumented individuals to emergency situations only.

Macron, however, expressed his disagreement with the idea of restricting the right of asylum, stating that France would continue to uphold its long-standing tradition of providing asylum to those whose rights are threatened in their home countries.

As the examination of the bill faces an uncertain future, it remains to be seen whether it will be sent back to the Senate for reevaluation or if the government will withdraw the text altogether.

Earlier in the day, approximately 200 people, including undocumented workers, gathered outside the Palais Bourbon in Paris to protest against the proposed bill. Sophie Binet, head of the hard-left CGT union, denounced the bill as a "shame" that undermines the fundamental principles of the French Republic. Binet also criticized what she called the "hypocrisy" of regularizations, arguing that France relies heavily on the labor of undocumented workers in areas such as kitchens, cleaning, and construction.

The rejection of Macron's immigration bill marks a significant setback for his government, requiring them to reassess their approach and find new ways to address the country's immigration challenges.