Former France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has called for a complete overhaul of Franco-Algerian relations, accusing Algeria of repeated provocations, according to Le Figaro. He urged France to revoke the 1968 bilateral agreement governing migration between the two nations, which he believes hampers a firm response to Algeria’s actions.
Attal criticized certain Algerian influencers, accusing them of inciting violence against France. “Antisemitic remarks, calls for murder, glorification of terrorism—these hate preachers openly express hostility toward our country,” he said. Attal called for an uncompromising response to these alarming trends.
Beyond incendiary rhetoric, Attal condemned what he described as deliberate provocations by Algerian authorities. He highlighted the arrest of Boualem Sansal, a writer known for his criticism of Islamist extremism, as a symbolic affront to France.
“By imprisoning Sansal, Algeria isn’t just silencing a dissident; it’s holding France hostage,” Attal noted.
Another flashpoint was the recent expulsion of an Algerian influencer by France, only for Algeria to facilitate his immediate return. Attal viewed this as the latest sign of Algeria’s growing disregard for France’s diplomatic overtures.
Attal urged France to establish clear boundaries and adopt a “power dynamic” in its dealings with Algeria. He argued that canceling the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement is essential to restoring balance in a relationship marked by inequality.
“The Algerian regime consistently rejects our gestures of goodwill, choosing insults and provocations instead,” he added.
This stance comes amid worsening relations between Paris and Algiers, fueled by diplomatic tensions, arbitrary arrests, and actions perceived as open challenges to French authority.