De Villiers intensifies call: petition surpasses 1.9M signatures, demands referendum or face mass protest
Former MEP Philippe de Villiers, founder of the Movement for France and Puy du Fou theme park, is escalating pressure on the French political class.
After securing more than 1.9 million signatures for his petition demanding a referendum on immigration, he warns that ignoring his proposal could provoke a UK-style uprising in the streets.
Call for Referendum
The initiative sets out two demands: halting uncontrolled immigration and restoring freedom of speech, which de Villiers argues has been undermined by restrictive laws and political correctness.
He positions these as not merely policy questions but fundamental questions of national survival. His petition states that elites and successive governments have systematically weakened sovereignty—via open borders, generous welfare for newcomers, mass regularizations—and now, only a referendum can restore the voice of the people.
De Villiers compared the momentum behind his petition to grassroots movements in Britain, suggesting that ignoring public pressure would risk a new wave of popular protest in France.
Broader Political Context
De Villiers has framed the issue as part of a long-running battle between the political establishment and ordinary voters. He compared it to the 2005 referendum on the EU constitution, in which French voters rejected the treaty but were later overridden by parliament.
“That was a democratic hold-up,” he said, warning that ignoring his immigration petition could fuel the same sense of betrayal.
You can sign the petition here.
