LR deputies will take advantage of their parliamentary niche on Thursday to defend a proposed resolution providing for a return to a treaty which guarantees Algerian nationals a more favorable regime than common law.
It is a particularly scrutinized text which is preparing to be debated in the National Assembly on Thursday, December 7. On the occasion of their parliamentary niche – a session during which the deputies of a political group are masters of the agenda – the Republicans will defend a proposed resolution aimed at denouncing the Franco-Algerian agreement of December 27, 1968. This text could divide the majority, who are seeking to escape from the political trap set by their right-wing colleagues, a few days before the arrival in the hemicycle of the very thorny immigration bill.
This proposal tabled last June by Eric Ciotti, Olivier Marleix and Annie Genevard aims to return to a treaty concluded between the two countries after the Algerian war. Amended three times in 1985, 1994 and 2001, it facilitates the conditions of entry and stay in France for Algerian nationals, with a regime more favorable than common law. “Algerians benefit from freedom of establishment to carry out a business activity or an independent profession. Algerian nationals can access more quickly than nationals of other States the issuance of a residence permit valid for ten years”summary the Ministry of the Interior.
This is the derogatory regime that the right wants to denounce. “We want to put an end to this legal exception which facilitates the immigration of Algerian nationals to our country”, write the authors of this text. But, even if this proposed resolution were voted on, it would not be binding: a resolution is not a law but a act by which the Assembly issues an opinion on a specific question. It would therefore not force French diplomacy to actually reverse this agreement with Algeria, especially since foreign policy falls within the reserved domain of the head of state.
Horizons dissociates itself from the majority
The fact remains that this sensitive text divides the majority, within which the Horizons group said it was in favor of denouncing this agreement. It was even Edouard Philippe, head of the party, who brought this subject to the surface in the spring. “Maintaining such a system today with a country with which we have complicated relations no longer seems justified to me”declared in June to The Express the former Prime Minister, followed by his troops at the Palais-Bourbon.
“Logic would dictate that the majority vote for this text, wants to believe the LR deputy for Hauts-de-Seine Philippe Juvin. We hope that Horizons will follow us, given thatEdouard Philippe had a very clear position on the subject”. “I confirm to you that we will support the position of Edouard Philippe”, declared Tuesday, during a press briefing, the leader of the Horizons deputies, Laurent Marcangeli. The Corsican elected official sees everything but “a coincidence” in LR’s proposal, made public just after the interview with the former head of government.
“Horizons MPs will vote on this resolution.”
Laurent Marcangeli, president of the Horizons group at the Assemblyduring a press briefing
But Horizons should play this role alone since the government will be opposed to the proposed resolution. “This isn’t the first time this has happened to us. [d’être en désaccord avec le gouvernement]. Not voting for this text would be antithetical to the position of Edouard Philippe.asserts Horizons MP Frédéric Valletoux.
Macron defends “a principle of efficiency”
On the government side, the line is clear. “The blunt denunciation of this agreement is not relevant, both for legal and political reasons. It would not at all resolve the difficulties as you claim, but on the contrary would have many major disadvantages. We would collectively lose “replied Laurence Boone, Secretary of State for Europe, on Tuesday to a question from the National Rally, unsurprisingly favorable to the Republican text.
“This falls within the reserved domain of the President of the Republic who could address the issue during an upcoming visit by the Algerian President to France“, also highlights Olivier Becht’s entourage to justify the executive’s position. The delegate minister in charge of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French people abroad will defend this line in the hemicycle on Thursday. For the moment, the Quai d’Orsay ensures that there is no “no timetable” for the postponed visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which was initially scheduled to take place in early May.
Emmanuel Macron, for his part, had ruled out the possibility of a renegotiation of this agreement with a terse response, during an interview given to Pointend of August : “We say everything and its opposite on this subject. In this regard, I am only guided by a principle of efficiency.” On Tuesday, Laurence Boone, however, considered that the agreement was not “fixed”. “It’s an important agreement, it’s useful, but we can’t either cryogenize”supports the Quai d’Orsay, which observes “a little acceleration” on this sensitive issue. Wednesday evening, near the FigaroElisabeth Borne assured that the renegotiation of the agreement was current.
“We have requests and the Algerian government has some on its side. So it is indeed on the agenda.”
Elisabeth Borne, Prime Ministerat Figaro
As for the MoDem, another ally of the presidential camp, it supports this position and will not follow Horizons on Thursday either. “We do not disagree with the idea that these agreements be renegotiated, but in the context of the current breakdown in relations with Algeria, we consider that this is a clumsy and counterproductive diplomatic initiative”judges the centrist group, which will therefore vote against.
“No time to take side steps”
Among Renaissance parliamentarians, dissension was narrowly avoided. “Three weeks ago, many MPs wanted to vote on this proposed resolution”relates a ministerial source, citing the position “blurry” of the group’s president, Sylvain Maillard, or that of MP Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet. The elected official chose not to be responsible for the text for her group and judged the Franco-Algerian agreement “obsolete”.
But since, “many messages were sent by the Elysée, Matignon or the Quai d’Orsay to call on Renaissance to vote against”, continues this same source. And “the group will vote against”, confirms MP Mathieu Lefèvre. Even those on the right wing will not make waves. “I will follow the position of my group, this is not the time to take side steps”confides MP Charles Sitzenstuhl.
The arithmetic logic is therefore implacable: the Republicans’ proposed resolution has no chance of passing, especially since left-wing groups are also opposed to it. In the ranks of the majority, the subject is not closed, but caution is required to develop the agreement in the future. “We have to go slowly and use all possible diplomatic means. Otherwise, the backlash can be very harsh”warns a parliamentarian from the presidential camp.