Retailleau deprives more than 40 Algerian dignitaries of their privileges

Promise held. After saying wanting “Change your” and stop “The diplomacy of good feelings” With Algiers, the Minister of the Interior sparked, on Monday evening, a salvo of measures directly targeting the high sphere of Algerian power, according to information from Paris Match. Objective displayed: forcing the authorities to take over their illegally present nationals on French soil, in particular those deemed dangerous.

More than 40 influential members of the Algerian nomenklatura who recently have “Denigated” France – political, economic or military figures – were withdrawn the diplomatic facilities which allowed them to stay, circulate or have treatment in France. This figure should “Climb 80 by the end of the day”a source close to the file told our colleagues.

Towards a questioning of the 1968 agreements

This measure is part of the strategy of “Graduated response” Defended for several months by Bruno Retailleau, while Emmanuel Macron, for his part, advocates appeasement. Last February, the tenant of Place Beauvau had declared that he wanted to hire a standoff with Algiers by questioning the 1968 agreements which give the Algerians a special status to enter and stay on French territory. An idea supported by François Bayrou, before the Head of State reminded the order of the two ministers. “We are not going to denounce them unilaterally, it makes no sense”had then decided the president.

But the last weeks have shown several times that the gentle method did not seem to bear fruit … Algeria still refuses to accept the return of its own nationals on its territory when they are expelled from the other side of the Mediterranean Sea. The border police (PAF) experienced it last Thursday, after an individual known for his Islamist radicalization was denied entry into Algerian territory. As for the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, he was recently sentenced to a prison sentence in Algeria, as well as journalist Christophe Gleizes, collaborator of the magazine So Foot. Expected at the Élysée this Thursday, Bruno Retailleau may manage to change his mind Emmanuel Macron.