Paris, France – In a move that sparked widespread political controversy both within France and abroad, the French National Assembly (parliament) adopted on Wednesday evening, by a single vote, a motion proposed by the National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, calling for a review of the agreements signed between France and Algeria.
According to the French newspaper Le Figaro on Thursday, the vote came after heated debates in parliament. The proposal received 276 votes in favor and 275 against, passing by the narrowest margin ever recorded for such symbolic resolutions.
The proposal calls for condemning what the far-right party describes as a “historical flaw” in the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreements. These agreements regulate the entry and residence of Algerians in France. The National Rally party argues that these agreements “are no longer relevant to the current reality and constitute unjustified positive discrimination in favor of Algerians compared to other communities.”
Left-wing and centrist parties strongly criticized the decision, arguing that it “manipulates the sensitive historical and political issue between Paris and Algiers for domestic electoral purposes.” Meanwhile, members of parliament warned that this move could lead to renewed tension in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
This vote comes amid a rise in far-right rhetoric in France, with immigration and relations with North African countries being exploited as electoral leverage. This occurs as Marine Le Pen’s party seeks to strengthen its presence in the French parliament ahead of the next elections.
Observers believe that adopting this resolution, even if it is not legally binding, carries strong political symbolism. This reflects a shift in the French public mood regarding immigration and relations with Algeria.
