The question of the memory of Algerian history was an inevitable issue of Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to the country. The President of the Republic ventured into this terrain on Friday August 26 in Algiers, on the second day of his trip: he pleaded for a “renewed partnership” based on youth, the diaspora and innovation, to relaunch “love story” that binds the two countries. But this last term provoked strong reactions from several elected officials of the Nupes.
Memoirs ➡️ “It’s a love story that has its share of tragedy. On the question of memory, we are called upon to choose between pride and repentance. I want the truth and recognition”, declares Emmanuel Macron. not a child of the Algerian war.” pic.twitter.com/qNAwzkt4QD
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) August 26, 2022
“It’s a love story that has its share of tragedy”declared more precisely the Head of State. “You have to be able to get angry in order to be able to reconcile. I try (…) to look our past in the face, without complacency.” “Our stories are linked”in particular because of the number of Algerians and descendants of Algerians, black feet and harkis in France, he added.
“Presenting colonization as ‘a love story that has its share of tragedy’ is an aberration”reacted a few hours later Fabien Roussel, ex-communist candidate for the presidential election.
Presenting colonization as “a love story that has its share of tragedy” is an aberration.
Colonization is a crime that must be recognized as such.
Proud that the communists were in all the fights for decolonization and the rights of peoples. https://t.co/3kq5vqqzS4
— Fabien Roussel (@Fabien_Roussel) August 26, 2022
The first secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure, and the EELV deputy Sandrine Rousseau recalled that Emmanuel Macron had described colonization as “crime against humanity” during the 2017 presidential campaign, being surprised that he could mention Friday a “love story”. The environmentalist accused him of “very heavy drag of the RN”.
Macron 2017 “colonization is a crime against humanity”. 2021 “Was there an Algerian nation before colonization? “. 2022 “a tragic love story”. The lightness of the treatment of the PR insults the wounded memories. https://t.co/bohRwjdVyy
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) August 26, 2022
2017 Macron “colonization is a crime against humanity”
2022 Macron colonization is a “love story”
Between the two a very heavy dredge of the #RNan idyll that begins to be seen. #Macron or the permanent scam#Algeria— Sandrine Rousseau (@sandrousseau) August 26, 2022