On the day of the visit of the French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin to Algeria, the domestic political debate in Paris about relations with the North African neighbor intensifies. While President Emmanuel Macron’s government is focusing on a cautious rapprochement, the Rassemblement National (RN) demands a fundamental change of course – away from diplomatic restraint, towards a policy of firmness and clear counter-demands.
The cause of the new controversy are statements by RN spokesperson Laurent Jacobelli, who sharply criticized France’s Algeria policy. France has been conducting a “diplomacy of bowing” for years, he declared on public broadcasting. Macron’s strategy has yielded no tangible results. Every phase of rapprochement was ultimately followed by new diplomatic tensions.
A relationship full of historical burden
The relations between France and Algeria have been among the most complicated within the French foreign policy field for decades. The Algerian war from 1954 to 1962 still determines the political and social relations between the two countries today. Questions about memory culture, migration, security policy, and economic cooperation constantly overlap.
Under President Emmanuel Macron, several attempts have been made at a historic reconciliation. Macron had already early declared that colonialism had been a “crime against humanity” – a statement that was positively received in Algeria, but sparked sharp criticism in parts of France. Nevertheless, even under his presidency, it has not been possible to create a stable basis for bilateral relations.
Tensions repeatedly escalate over visa issues, deportations, security cooperation, or historical statements by French politicians. Added to this is the domestic political dimension: millions of people with Algerian roots live in France, causing every crisis between Paris and Algiers to provoke immediate societal reactions.
RN demands break with Macron’s course
Laurent Jacobelli used Darmanin’s trip to attack the government head-on. The RN accuses Macron of being too lenient towards President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. According to the right-wing party, France must pursue its own interests much more offensively.
The demands focus mainly on two points: Firstly, the RN calls for more consistent repatriation of Algerian citizens who have been convicted or must be deported from France. Secondly, the party demands increased pressure on Algiers in the case of the French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is currently imprisoned in Algeria.
The RN consciously links these topics to the general migration debate. For years, the party has argued that France must use its diplomatic and economic leverage more strongly to persuade countries of origin to cooperate with repatriations. Algeria is considered a particularly difficult partner in this regard, as return procedures regularly stall or are politically influenced.
With its choice of words “Aplaventrisme” – more or less subservience – the RN simultaneously tries to portray Macron as a weak head of state who does not defend French interests forcefully enough. This strategy fits into the party’s broader foreign political positioning, which focuses on national sovereignty and demonstrative toughness.
Darmanin’s difficult mission in Algiers
Officially, Gérald Darmanin’s trip is meant to restore judicial cooperation between the two states. In recent months, diplomatic relations have significantly deteriorated. Various political controversies and mutual accusations heavily burdened the cooperation.
Darmanin is now trying at least to reopen channels of communication on a technical level. Especially in the area of prosecution and legal cooperation, both countries depend on each other. France needs Algerian cooperation for extraditions and repatriations, while Algeria is interested in economic stability and security exchange.
The minister’s mission is, however, politically very sensitive. On the one hand, Paris must not give the impression domestically that it is making concessions to Algiers. On the other hand, a lasting deterioration of the relationship would be problematic for both states.
Because Algeria plays a strategically important role for France: in the areas of energy, migration, and security. Especially since the Russian war against Ukraine, Algeria has gained additional geopolitical weight as a gas supplier. Europe is increasingly seeking alternative energy partnerships in the Mediterranean region.
French domestic politics sharpens the tone
The debate about Algeria has long become part of the domestic power struggle in France. The RN uses the topic to put pressure on the government, both in terms of security and migration policy. In doing so, the party encounters a social climate in which questions about national identity and state authority are increasingly discussed emotionally.
The government, on the other hand, tries to pursue a balanced course. Representatives of the presidential camp warn against defining relations with Algeria purely as domestic symbolism. A sustainable diplomatic break would not only damage economic interests but also severely complicate cooperation on migration and counterterrorism.
Even left-wing parties broadly reject the demands of the RN for a confrontational approach. They argue that historical sensitivity and pragmatic diplomacy are needed to build stable relations in the long term.
At the same time, even within the political center, impatience is growing over the often difficult cooperation with Algeria from a French perspective. Especially regarding the repatriation of deported individuals, French authorities have been complaining for years about inadequate cooperation.
Between pragmatism and power politics
Gérald Darmanin’s trip exemplifies how complex Franco-Algerian relations have become. Paris faces a strategic dilemma: a tougher line may be popular domestically, but it entails significant diplomatic risks. A policy of dialogue is increasingly interpreted by the opposition as a sign of weakness.
In addition, Algeria also exploits the tensions politically. President Tebboune likes to present himself internally as a defender of national sovereignty against the former colonizer. Therefore, every confrontation with France also has symbolic value for Algerian domestic politics.
Whether Darmanin’s visit will actually lead to a relaxation remains uncertain. More likely is first a cautious stabilization of individual areas of cooperation. However, the fundamental conflicts – migration, historical memory, and political influence – will remain.
Thus, the Algeria policy remains a sensitive area for France where foreign policy, history, and domestic power struggles are inseparably linked.
P.T.