Undocumented migrants will be able to continue to get help to get treatment. MPs rejected Wednesday, by 120 votes against and 77 for, a motion for a resolution LR calling for the restriction of State Medical Aid (AME) which allows foreigners in an irregular situation to access care.

The proposal called in particular for refocusing the AME "on urgent care only", "modifying the health protection of asylum seekers from safe countries of origin" and restricting residence permits for care.

Support for the National Rally

The LR Véronique Louwagie, author of the text, deplored the "slippage become completely uncontrollable" of the AME which is according to her "becoming a democratic scandal and a very great social injustice". The France is "one of the most generous countries in the EU", assured the MEP, calling for "a measured redefinition of health protection".

This proposal, launched in the continuity of the LR offensive on immigration, was supported only by the RN "because we are coherent, sincere and non-sectarian," said MP Edwige Diaz.

Government rejects 'demagogy'

The government, which had sent the Minister Delegate for Territorial Organization and Health Professions, Agnès Firmin Le Bodo, to the benches, was "unfavorable" to this proposal "which carries a profound questioning of the AME". "Restricting the device to emergencies only represents a medical and financial risk," assured the minister, recalling that with "a cost of 1.2 billion euros in 2022, and a little more than 400,000 beneficiaries", the AME represents "0.5% of the health insurance budget". "Most migrants have little knowledge of the AME," she added, although according to her "the subject must be able to be debated" but "without dogmatism" and "without demagogy".

On the majority side, Mathieu Lefèvre (Renaissance) pleaded for a "responsible way" because "erecting the AME as a fantasy or taboo is to build the best alibi for impotence". "We will vote against but we think there is a real issue," said Anne Bergantz (MoDem).

On the left the indignation was unanimous. "So here is the refrain of the bad migrant taking advantage of the AME," said Caroline Fiat (LFI) deploring "xenophobic fantasies", which is why Véronique Louwagie then asked her for an apology. "Wicked proposal" for the communist Hubert Wulfranc, "nauseating affirmations" for the socialist Gérard Leseul... "Who can believe that those who flee poverty do so by reading Doctolib?" asked ecologist Benjamin Lucas, accusing LR of "diversion" after its support for the government on pension reform.

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