Still on the Offensive: Why Marine Le Pen May Lead To a Diplomatic Crisis Between France and Algeria?

Algeria is occupying a large place in the pre-election campaign for the presidential elections in France. The future presidents do not forget to return to the diplomatic crisis which shakes relations between Algeria and France whenever possible.

This African country apparently represents an excellent asset as it was mentioned by the outgoing President Emmanuel Macron and by the other candidates, namely Eric Zemmour, Eric Ciotti, Xavier Bertrand. In doing so, it is not surprising that the leader of the French far right Marine Le Pen did not prevent herself from addressing this issue, too.

According to France-info radio, Le Pen has announced that in case she wins the presidency, she will not grant Algerians entry visas, and she will do so if Algeria does not accept the return of its “undesirable” citizens in France.

Marine also confirmed in a statement to the same radio that Paris's measures were appropriate and clear. The procedures require reducing the visas granted to Algerians by half, and Algerians must respect France laws.

 

No More Algerians in France

Speaking on Franceinfo, the presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen addressed directly the issue concerning the decision of France to reduce the visas granted to Algerians by 50%. In fact, this came as a response to the Algerian authorities who would have refused to take back the nationals turned back by France.

In this regard, Le Pen welcomed the decision of France saying that “it is the right method.” To support her point of view, she explains that “Algeria is a great country which has obtained its independence, but it is now necessary for it to act like a great nation which respects international law.”

Not only that, the far-right leader recommends “to suspend altogether the granting of visas to Algerians.”

Moreover, the president of the National Rally adds that this international law states that “when one of your compatriots is clandestine in another country, the latter has the right to send him back and the other country is obliged to retrieve it.”

Further still, she recommends “to suspend altogether the granting of visas and the transfer of money to Algeria of any nature whatsoever, including the intermediary of international aid.” Moreover, she indicates that “1.7% of Algeria’s GDP comes from donation transfers.”

On the same Radio station, Le Pen stressed that things are not going as “should” with Algeria, and in doing so “Algeria must respect France and respect decisions taken against its unwanted nationals in French territory, for reasons that are due either to being illegal or to having committed crimes in France.”

 

‘Forever’ Diplomatic Crisis

To gain French people’s love, Le Pen took advantage of the current diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France to fiercely defend France’s procedures and laws.

In a sarcastic manner, the far-right leader said that “Algeria is a great country that has faced great difficulties such as terrorism, and since it is a great country that gained its independence, it must act as a great nation and respect international law.”

She added to say that “if France is refused, it will no longer grant visas to Algerians at all, and not only resort to halving their number, as the government of President Emmanuel Macron has done.”

Marine did not stop here, but she continued to “threaten” the Algerian people saying that “there will be no financial transfers by private individuals towards Algeria if the latter continues to refuse to take back its unwanted citizens in France.”

A few hours later, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune finally appeared to accuse the French Interior Ministry of “lying” concerning the list of 7,000 undocumented migrants.

In his interview with California18, Tebboune said that “since 2020, we have received 3 lists with 94 cases of Algerians subject to expulsion order, of which 21 were accepted and 16 were rejected, because they are linked with the terrorist organization.”

Stirring controversy, the presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said in an interview with French television channel BFM that “colonisation gave a lot to former colonies, especially Algeria,” and this is not the first time that the leader of the National Rally has glorified French colonial role.

In the one-on-one interview with presenter Jean-Jaques Bourdin, Marine condemned the treatment of Algerians who helped the French army, known as Harkis. Confident, she said to Bourdin: “I defend the Harkis along with those who were repatriated. I think they were ill-treated and ill-received in their country.”

Le Pen’s beliefs echo a general denial of France’s colonial past among many right-wing politicians, which has created a real diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria.

 

More Hatred, You Win

A few months before the French presidential elections, scheduled for April 10 and 24, the criterions of the political battle to win the Elysee seat become easy to understand. Where each candidate presented the features of his domestic and international political programme.

However, this time, the French presidential candidates have chosen “Algeria” as the main motif for their campaign launch. In fact, this is not surprising, especially since Emmanuel Macron’s statements have complicated the French Algerian relations after Tebboune, the Algerian President, responded fiercely.

Accordingly, French presidential candidates and their talk about Algeria were never positive. After Macron's fall, each one of them mastered the show of hostility in their own way to gain the approval of the French people, forgetting their internal problems.

Xavier Bertrand, the candidate of the French right-wing party, said that if he wins the Elysee chair, he will cut ties with Algeria.

According to what Xavier Bertrand said, during his appearance in The Great Debating’s program on the French channel LCI, France is no longer respected by Algeria. The presidential candidate said that “Algerian leaders no longer respect us, and the proof is that they prevented us from flying over their airspace to reach the Sahel.”

On the same channel, Xavier added that “if the Algerian leaders insist and if I win the presidency, I intend to reverse the bilateral agreements of 1968 which give Algerians more facilities in obtaining residence permits and freedom of movement in France.”

Xavier continues to say that “I will not be a repentant President of the Republic; I say this very clearly. I will not ask for an apology for France's crimes, as Macron promised.”

"I will build giant fences up to 22 meters long along the maritime borders of our country in order to prevent the entry of harragas [North African illegal migrants],” he added.

Not only Xavier, Eric Zemmour, one of the election candidates also began attacking Algeria and supporting Emmanuel Macron's proposal that there was no Algerian nation before the French occupation.

He said that the Algerians only talk about French colonialism, whereas they were occupied by Spain, the Romans, and the Ottomans.

Eric did not stop at that, he clearly threatened Arab Nations and said he will do to the Arabs and Muslims what Napoleon Bonaparte did to the Jews during the French Revolution.