Gabriel Attal Advocates for Firmness Towards Algeria and Calls Out an Outdated Migration Agreement

Amid a new diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister and leader of the Ensemble parliamentary group, has called for a firm and measured response. In an op-ed published in Le Figaro, he denounced “serious abuses” by Algerian influencers inciting violence and criticized the Algerian regime’s provocative stance toward France.

“The time for firmness has come”
This statement follows the controversial return to France of an Algerian national who had been expelled for calling for violence on TikTok. “For years, the Algerian regime has dismissed our outstretched hands and multiplied provocations,” said Gabriel Attal. He urged France to establish a clear “balance of power” with Algiers and emphasized the need to “set limits” in response to what he described as Algeria’s attempt to humiliate France.

Attal advocates for a “normal and dispassionate” relationship between the two nations, grounded in mutual respect. He called on France to free itself from “guilt narratives” and put an end to “memory-based rent-seeking,” asserting that doing so is essential for maintaining France’s respect on the international stage.

A migration agreement under fire
Gabriel Attal also took aim at the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement, which he described as “a full-fledged immigration pipeline.” Originally designed to meet France’s economic needs, the agreement is now seen as outdated and unsuitable. “It allows family reunification and settlement without requiring language proficiency or genuine integration,” he lamented, criticizing the system for making it difficult to revoke residence permits, even for public order violations.

This agreement, widely criticized by the political right and the National Rally, is, according to Attal, “indefensible to the French people.” He called for a courageous debate to revise the text and proposed pressure measures, such as reducing visas granted to Algerian nationals.

Reassessing privileges and reinforcing mutual respect
Attal also called for renegotiation of the 2007 agreements, which allow Algerian diplomatic passport holders to move freely in France. “These privileges enable Algerian dignitaries to disrespect our country while benefiting from medical care in France, leaving behind a substantial hospital debt,” he said, suggesting higher European customs tariffs as a means to apply commercial pressure on Algeria.

For the former Prime Minister, France must restore its ability to command respect. “There is an urgent need to rebuild a diplomatic relationship that is firm and balanced, where mutual respect takes precedence,” he concluded, emphasizing the importance of these reforms for the future of relations between Paris and Algiers.