Boualem Sansal did not benefit from the presidentialas expected, Friday, July 4. Since then, France has not officially reacted, which has also had the gift of annoying the opposition. The Franco-Algerian writer therefore remains hostage in Algeria after being sentenced to a sentence of five years in prison for “attacking national unity”.
A conviction denounced since the first day, November 16, by France, which considers that it is a response to the position taken by Emmanuel Macron to recognize the eastern Sahara as Moroccan, and not Algerian.
This lack of reaction also surprised in government. “It’s amazement”entrusts a minister to our colleagues from the Parisian. Another government source says that this is in fact a strategy of the executive which always hopes to obtain its release in the coming days, on the occasion of personal grace.
A hope that Xavier Driencourt, ex-French ambassador in Algeria no longer bears: “France said that it was necessary to remain discreet to wait for the grace of July 5 … We are on July 5 and Boualem Sansal is not released. The French government did not understand that the objective of President Tebboune was to humiliate Emmanuel Macron and France.”
François Bayrou’s reaction
The head of government still reacted to this news before the National Modem CouncilSaturday July 5: “The French government, around the President of the Republic, did everything to obtain the release of Boualem Sansal or his grace.” He believes that “his condemnation and the exclusion of the presidential grace which he was struck are, not only for the government but for all the French, an attack on the principles of elementary solidarity and freedom “. “Boualem Sansal is not condemned for what he would have done but for expressed opinions. And that one of our compatriots, 80 years old and sickor thus imprisoned is unbearable, “continued François Bayrou, who concluded with:” as long as necessary and whenever possible, we mobilize all our capacities for influence for a humanitarian decision to be taken. “
