In a strong gesture, the French president Emmanuel Macron demanded “great firmness” vis-à-vis Algeria. This declaration comes as the relations between Paris and Algiers are experiencing new access to tension, marked by persistent diplomatic disputes and a climate of mutual distrust.
In a note addressed to his Prime Minister, the French head of state calls for “a clear, without ambiguous posture” and declares that “France must be respected, including by its historical partners”. A formula which directly aims at the Algerian authorities, accused of multiplying provocations, while refusing to cooperate fully on certain sensitive files, in particular the expulsions of nationals in an irregular situation.
Among the concrete measures envisaged, Emmanuel Macron requests the Immediate suspension of the 2013 agreementwhich allowed Algerian diplomatic passport holders to benefit from visa exemptions. This suspension should be accompanied by the activation of a mechanism of Reduction of visas delivereda card already used in the past to put pressure on Algiers.
The president goes even further by claiming a consultation with the other countries of the Schengen spacein order to prevent French sanctions from being bypassed by requests filed elsewhere in Europe. Diplomatic coordination which reflects Paris’s desire to harden the tone at the continental level.
A climate of distrust installed
Franco-Algerian relations have been going through a turbulence area for several months. Originally: disagreements on the border renewed, the still sensitive memorial question, but also repeated diplomatic incidents. The case of the writer Boualem Sansal or that of journalists hampered in Algeria have tended the exchanges between the two capitals.
This firmness displayed by Macron marks a strategic inflection. Long cautious in his relations with Algiers, the French president now seems to opt for a harder line. Behind this turn: a double lens. On the one hand, Reaffirm the authority of France on the international scene. On the other, Send a clear signal to the inner electoratein a context of tension around migratory questions.
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