A xenophobic tweet from Republicans on the expulsion of Algerians sparks indignation even internally

Several elected officials denounce this photomontage and the words used by the right-wing party. Eric Ciotti’s entourage nevertheless assures that the visual, published Thursday morning, will not be removed.

The Republicans find themselves under heavy fire from criticism for a xenophobic visual that the right-wing party published on the social network X on Thursday May 30. This photomontage was published in response to a tweet from the conservative weekly Current values regarding the request made by Algeria on Monday for restitution of property “historical and symbolic” by France, in the name of the duty of remembrance linked to the work carried out during the period of French colonization.

This visual features archive images showing supporters celebrating Algeria’s sporting victories on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, without specific dates. “WE HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING AGAIN”, is it written on this montage. The photomontage is accompanied by the following comment: “Message of service to Algeria, we must take back everything, good and bad: criminals, delinquents, illegal immigrants, OQTF”, with the hashtag #OneTwoThree, often proclaimed and shared on social networks by Algerian supporters to encourage their team during various competitions. This hashtag is itself followed by an airplane emoji, a direct reference to the expulsion of the people mentioned above.

This is not the first time that the Republicans have targeted Algeria, often singled out by the right for not accepting the return of its citizens under the obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). In 2023, the political party tabled a proposed resolution to return to the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968, which the conditions of entry and stay in France for Algerian nationals.

The left immediately expressed very strong criticism of this publication. “This tweet is infamous, unworthy of a political group that claims to be Republican. You are no better than those who use hatred as their only political line”launched Sandrine Rousseau, environmentalist MP. “Outside the Republican field”said La France insoumise MP Paul Vannier, about this tweet “worthy of the extreme right” according to the boss of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure.

Another PS deputy, Arthur Delaporte, announced on X that he had reported the publication “for inciting hatred and racism”. “With tweets like this, you are no longer The Republicans. You are just The Racists. Delete this shameful tweet”launched Patrick Kanner, boss of socialist senators, on the same platform.

This position sparked strong criticism even from within the right-wing party. “The Republican right should not try to imitate the populists in the hope of winning a few votes. The campaign courageously led by François-Xavier Bellamy shows that we can do much better”denounced on X the LR deputy for the Territoire de Belfort, Ian Boucard.

Anonymously, other members of the right-wing party were also offended by this xenophobic visual. “The codes of this tweet and the image used do not correspond to a government party. We are confusing everything…”laments a Republican executive. “In the game of caricatured slogans, the extremes will always be one step ahead!”regrets an elected member of the party. “This tweet scandalizes me. I am not far-right”exclaims for her part an elected LR, who requests the withdrawal of the publication from the social network.

Contacted by franceinfo, the entourage of Eric Ciotti, president of LR, however assures that the tweet will not be deleted and that it is fully accepted, 10 days before crucial European elections for the political party. “Society has an urgent need for appeasement, while La France insoumise and Reconquête seek to hysterize and conflict everything”whispers an elected representative from the Paris region, credited with around 7% according to an average of polls carried out by the Tout l’Europe site.